Postal services
The Post Office has been on the same premises for well over a century, probably for about 140 years.
In the 1910's the white hut on the left, which was situated opposite the Chapel, was where the postman ate his lunch before returning to Holsworthy. Notice the old oil lamp holder in the foreground.
A branch of the Westaway family (including the Brays) were associated with the Post Office for four generations.
Roger Allin, however, was sub-postmaster in the early years, and William Westaway was post messenger.
John Bray was sub-postmaster until 1933, when he was succeeded by his son Thomas Westaway Bray.
Royal Mail delivery in about 1920. The postman is believed to be Titus Wickett.
In 1946 the Post Office was bought by Sam Bond. He subsequently handed it over to his son Derek Bond, who sold it in 1993 on his retirement.
The first mail is said to have been brought here from Holsworthy by horse and cart, and a bugle was sounded to warn people of its arrival.
Postal Progress - Donkey and Gig Days
The evening postal delivery at Bradworthy commenced last week. This will be another welcome facility, especially for the business people around the village.
It is wonderful what an advance has been made in this direction during the past half-century or so.
The oldest people here remember the days when an old gentleman with a donkey and gig used to fetch the letters from Holsworthy.
Then there was a pony and trap for some time, going to Holsworthy in the morning and returning at night, whilst the next move was the
sending out from Holsworthy in the morning, and returning the same evening.
There was no delivery in those days at all and people went to the office for their letters.
Some of the big houses in the neighbourhood would employ a boy to bring their letters to them after school.
During the last thirty or forty years there have been great changes, and today Bradworthy is very efficiently served by the
Post Office Department. (January 1936)
House deliveries started after 1885. Regular house deliveries appear to have started about 1895, and telegraph facilities in the same year.
In February 1965 the Rev. Lingham-Lees and Derrick Bond (Postmaster) locked the postmen of Bradworthy (Harry Trewin, Fred Slee, George Elliot, Henry Harris, Roy Birch) in the stocks.
In the early years of the century mail was delivered, on foot, only to the 'prominent' people of the village.
By 1950 Bradworthy had six local postmen (Mr. W. Slade, Mr. J. Prance, Mr. E. Bryant, Mr. G. Elliot, Mr. F. Slee, and Mr. H. Harris) who delivered mail to the village and the surrounding rural area.
After 16th July 1971 this was reduced to one local postman, who handled the village delivery, with the mail for rural Bradworthy being delivered from Holsworthy.
The last delivery was made by George Elliott on 16th May 1981, after which the village delivery was handled from Holsworthy.
Mrs. Annie Bryant was Bradworthy's only postwoman
For 27 years, in fair weather and foul, she delivered His Majesty's mails around the
farms and cottages of the east and south-east parts of the parish, and during that time she walked over 45,000 miles.
It was not until she had passed 70 years of age (in 1926) that she relinquished her postal duties, and she was then almost certainly
the oldest delivery postwoman in England. (April 1939 - written on her 83rd birthday)