Swanton Morley is a village situated in the heart of Norfolk. It is a village steeped in history documented back to the Domesday Book. Today the village exists as a tranquil village community of about 2,500 people. ~Wikipedia
Kelly’s Directory of Norfolk shows that the Postmaster was one George Mitchell in 1900. He appears in the 1911 Census as a Grocer, living in Town Street where the first two photos above were taken. Previously in 1891 and 1901 he was living in Town Street too – recorded as a Grocer & Draper.
Post Office Two
There is a second post office which may have come later. I cannot locate the second building in the present day Google Maps. Maybe someone recognises it ?
Here is the post card and the stamp on the reverse…
In the 1911 Census the Post Office Two (the square building) is situated on Greengate and the Sub Postmaster was Ellis George Childerhouse.
Swanton Morley is quite a long town and stretches along the main road which is Greengate (and then on into Town Street via Gooseberry Hill) so maybe it makes sense that there was a Post Office at each end. Or perhaps we’re at the point where one replaced the other. I feel this second one may have been lost to development as I have driven through Swanton Morley many times and I do not recognise it.
Here is the Kelly’s Directory of Norfolk, 1912 entry for the Post Office Two…
I recognise it , it was on the left as you approached from Dereham, before proceeding a little further and then turning round the corner to the church, old primary school (now a community hall?) next to the Papermaker’s arms, which was by Morris’s garage – used by everybody. Then up the hill to the base.
Immediately by the side of the Post office whose wood-work I am sure was painted blue in the 1960’s was a row of early (?) Victorian cottages with long front gardens.
Perhaps it has become a private house now.
So you are saying it was located very near the first post office ?