Post Office Sorting Office, Clifton Road, Cambridge

History of Post Office Sorting office

1988 06 23
The very latest, sophisticated machinery is being installed in the Post Office’s new sorting office in Clifton Road. Mill Road became a Mechanised Letter Office in 1972 but its technology is now in need of replacement. Conditions for the 650 staff are cramped and noisy. Now high-speed sorting machines will hold 16,000 items an hour and Mill Road will be refurbished to act as delivery centre for mail coming into Cambridge. 88 06 23a
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Cherryhinton Road Area Scrapbook 1897–1990.

1989 03 15
The new £5.5 million mechanised letter office in Clifton Road was built to cope with the area’s rapidly increasing volumes pf mail. Letters are handled by some of the latest sorting technology including machines which operate at a rate of 25,000 an hour and has scope for expansion so it can continue to grow with the city. It was formally opened by TV personality Anne Gregg, presenter of “Holiday ‘89”. Later she waved off a special train to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the travelling post office. 89 03 15
Credit: Mike Petty, Cambridge Cherryhinton Road Area Scrapbook 1897–1990.