John Everett by Fanny Wale (Cambs Archives)

Site of Post Office, Little Shelford

History of former post office

Fanny Wale in ‘Shelford Parva’ writes about John Everett who lived at this site.

The post office was a large thatched cottage on the corner opposite the blacksmith.

John was the church clerk and sexton at All Saint’s Church for 40 years. The picture of John is a photo by Palmer Clarke of a water colour by Fanny Wale in 1903.

He was sexton until he was knocked down by a bicycle three years before his death. This left his leg injured so that he could not dig, not could he work as postman as collections and deliveries happened four times a day.

His son Robert took over as postman and his daughter Alice Wisbey as postmistress.

Later the post office was also a grocers shop. Since 1908 the shop was kept by Mrs Miles, sister in law to the previous post master, Mr Clamp. Charles Gee was post master in 1908; by 1915 Miss Hyde had taken over.

Letters arrived at 7am and 5pm; they went out at 8am, 12,15 pm and 7.45 pm.