the postal history of lanark brian dow & ken liddell
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THE POSTAL HISTORY OF LANARK Brian Dow & Ken Liddell
Lanark Post Office was established prior to 1738 (Mackay 1989). The first
recorded mark used by Lanark Post Office was a manuscript town name or initials
which was recorded in 5 April 1738.
Manuscript “Lan: 2” from 1738 (courtesy T Woods)
A straight line “LANARK” (LK160) was the first recorded handstamp mark and
was known to be used between 1750 and 1771 (Auckland 1995).
Straight line LANARK (LK160) from 1771 (ex KL)
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The next mark recorded is the straight line “LANERK” (LK162) which is recorded in Auckland (1995) as being used between 1791 and 1806.
Straight line LANERK (LK162) from 1806 (ex KL)
A circular mileage mark (LK164) was known to have been introduced by 1808
and used until 1810. This marking showed a mileage of 385 miles (from London)
through “C” (Carlisle).
Circular mileage mark (LK164) on 1810 letter from Lanark to Kirkcudbright
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This mileage mark was replaced by a boxed LANARK/385-C (LK166) which has
been known to be used from 1812 to 1820.
Boxed mileage mark (LK166) from 1816
A mileage adjustment to 388 miles resulted in a replacement boxed mileage mark
(LK168a) being used from 1821 to 1828.
Boxed mileage mark (LK168a) used in 1821
In 1830 Kirkwoods of Edinburgh issued a straight line “LANARK” (LK170)
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
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Straight line LANARK (LK170) used in 1834
Straight line LANARK (LK170) used in 1840 as an early “MISSENT TO
LANARK” with a manuscript “Missent to”
In 1837, The Post Office was located in the High Street with Archibald Haddow
the Postmaster. Letters to Edinburgh, Carluke, Airdrie and Wishaw were
despatched (by mail gig) every evening at eight, and arrived every morning at
seven. Letters to Carlisle, Moffat, Douglas, Lesmahagow and Hamilton were
despatched (by foot post to meet the mail at Milltown toll) every morning at half-
past seven, and arrived every afternoon at two. Letters to Glasgow were
despatched (by foot post and mail) every morning at half-past seven, and (by mail
gig) every evening at eight, and arrived every morning at seven and afternoon at
two. Letters to Carnwath and Biggar were despatched (by foot post) every
afternoon at a quarter-past two, and arrived every morning at seven.
Lanark was a royal burgh, market town and capital of the county of its name.
The town was principally composed of one line of streets, descending from east
to west, bearing the respective names of High-street, Bloom-gate, and West-port;
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besides these, there are smaller streets diverging, and several lanes and closes.
The general occupation of the inhabitants was hand-loom weaving for the
Glasgow manufacturers; a few shoes were made for exportation; nail-making was
carried on to some extent; there were two breweries, two banking establishments
(Commercial Bank of Scotland and the Western Bank of Scotland), and three
principal inns; one of the latter, the Clydesdale Hotel, ranked amongst the most
extensive and well conducted inns to be found in the provincial towns of
Scotland, and, with its fine portico entrance, was an embellishment to the street
in which it stood. The market day was Tuesday; fairs, the last Wednesdays of
April, May and July the Thursday after the second Monday of October, and the
first Wednesday of November, all for cattle and horses, and lambs in the season.
During 1837, Kirkwood issued Lanark Post office with several handstamps:
i) a boxed additional ½ mark for wheel tax i.e. an extra ½d was charged
for every letter carried on a stage coach with more than 2 wheels over a
Toll Road in Scotland (Hodgson & Sedgewick 1984).
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
ii) a bag seal stamp
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
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An example of the bag seal handstamp being used on the sealing wax of a letter
(1865).
iii) and a boxed datestamp (LK172a)
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
This datestamp is known to have been used with black ink from 1837 to 1856;
red ink in 1840(see below); and blue ink from 1848 to 1849.
1838 1846 1856
(predates early use of blue ink by 2 years)
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13 August 1840
It shows an example of the penny black postage stamp cancelled with a red
Maltese cross presumably from Lanark.
Black Maltese Cross 1843
During the penny post era (from January 1840) a handstruck “1” or “2” would
be struck on the front of covers to denote postage paid.
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This item shows a handstruck “1” in red and a Lanark datestamp for 1 August 1840. For an example of a handstruck “2”, see 1868 later.
A slightly bigger Lanark boxed datestamp was provided in 1842 from Kirkwoods.
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books 1843
During 1844, Lanark would have been supplied by Kirkwoods with an A2 type
obliterator (4-5-4 line format) incorporating the numbers “215” which had been allocated to Lanark.
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This would have been used to cancel stamps rather than the Maltese Cross.
In August 1849, Lanark was issued with a “Missent to Lanark”. This is known to have been used with either blue or black ink.
1858
In 1850 a skeleton handstamp was provided to Lanark by Kirkwood’s.
Example used in 31 October 1850
This should have probably coincided with the inability to use one of the two
boxed Lanark datestamps, but examples are known from both datestamps beyond
1850. However, Kirkwood’s did provide a datestamp to Lanark on 30th October
1850.
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Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
And also in 1854, the other boxed datestamp was recut.
Ex Kirkwood’s proof books
In 1852, mails were received from Edinburgh at 1.00 am, 1.41 pm, and dispatched
at 10.05 am, 9.30 pm.
In November 1856, a further skeleton handstamp was issued to Lanark.
This did coincide with a change in use of a boxed datestamp and the first usage
of a double-arced datestamp.
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1857
By 1863, a single-arced datestamp had also come into use.
1867
By 1861, William Ballantyne was the Post Master. Letters arrived from the
South and Biggar every morning at 6.17am from Edinburgh, and Glasgow in the
afternoon at 1.10pm from Edinburgh, Glasgow and the North, every night at
7.25pm, and from Glasgow, Edinburgh, North and South, every night at 10.10pm;
and were despatched to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the North every morning at
5.22am; to Edinburgh and Glasgow in the forenoon at 11.20am; to the South and
Biggar every evening at 6.00pm; to Edinburgh, Glasgow, North and South every
night at 8.30pm.
In 1862 (and also in 1878) Elizabeth Bannatyne was the Post Mistress at the Post
Office based in Bloomgate. Mails arrived from the South and Carlisle at 6.55am,
and from Edinburgh and Glasgow at 12.25pm afternoon; from the South at
6.00pm, from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the North at 7.35pm, and at 11.10pm.
Mails were dispatched to Edinburgh and Glasgow at 11.15am; to Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and the North at 4.00pm; to the North, South, Edinburgh and Glasgow
at 6.00pm, and to the South and Carlisle at 9.25pm.
During 1864, the use of a datestamp together with the obliterator was superceded
by the introduction of a Lanark duplex cancellation, whereby the 215 component
cancelled the stamps and the datestamp was clearly seen adjacent to this mark.
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1868 letter from Lanark showing the LANARK-215 B5 2-2 bar duplex
cancellation together with late usage of a handstruck “2” to denote postage due
for underpayment.
In 1868, a single ring datestamp was also delivered for use in Lanark.
1870
During 1869, a further obliterator was issued to Lanark, this one being an A8
obliterator (3-3-3 line format).
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Late usage of the A8 obliterator in the 1900s
In 1873, a B4 duplex canceller was provided to Lanark. This differed from the
previous (B5) duplex canceller in having the “LANARK” round the top rather than across the datestamp.
B4 duplex cancellation from 1874
In 1883, Kirkwood’s issued a combined datestamp showing both the office
number (215) and the date.
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1885
Recut 1889 (ex KL) 1890
A type 6 skeleton mark is known to have been used between 30 November and
10 December 1886 and was also in use between 30 September and 5 October
1896.
In 1899, the same combined handstamp was produced but the code letter was
changed to a clock time.
1902 1903
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1906
In 1898, Kirkwood’s issued a Lanark “target” handstamp that was usually used
on parcel post items.
ex Kirkwood’s proof books
By 1903 the Post Office had been relocated to the High Street and Alexander
Fleming was postmaster. Deliveries were at 7 am & 12 (noon), 3.30 & 7.30 pm;
Dispatches at 1.20, 3, 6, 7.50 & 10.35 am & 2, 4.10, 5, 6.20, 6.35 & 9 pm; Sunday
despatches, 4 am & 9 pm.
The use of a combined stamp with a cross pattee in place of the office number
became standard practice throughout Scotland and Lanark had such a handstamp
by 1907.
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1907 1909
1912
A type 8 skeleton mark was known used between 30 May and 24 August 1914.
Early use of type 8 skeleton mark 1914
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The 15th May skeleton mark predates the earliest recorded use of this mark (30th
May).
27 August 1914 (ex KL)
This postdates the latest recorded usage of this mark by 3 days.
1915
This datestamp differs from the earlier similar one by the narrow gap for the
pattee at the bottom of the datestamp.
A type 8 skeleton mark is recorded as being used on 18 December 1917.
A similar cross pattee datestamp seems to have been in use until 1921.
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1919 (exKL)
16 September 1921 10 October 1921
A type 8 skeleton datestamp was in use between 16 September and 10 October
1921 (previously unrecorded).
The next datestamp had a solid arc rather than twin arcs.
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1925 Narrow Lanark
1929 Wide Lanark 1932
10 July 1934
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A type 8 skeleton datestamp was in use on 10 July 1934 (previously
unrecorded).
August 1934 1945
The next datestamp appears to have followed the skeleton with a Lanark double
ring datestamp with a solid arc.
1963
A Lanark double ring date stamp with thin arc together with green boxed Postage
Due instructional marks.
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Registered Mail:
1880
Early Registered envelope cancelled with Lanark B5 duplex cancellation.
1902
Oval “R” for Registration and stamp cancelled with Lanark single ring cancellation
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1934
Use of rouletted Lanark registration label and embossed stamp cancelled with
Lanark single ring cancellation
1940
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Lanark perforated registration label (wide R) and stamps cancelled with Lanark
single ring cancellation.
1950
Lanark perforated registration label (narrow R) and stamps cancelled with
Lanark single ring cancellation.
Oval REGISTERED/CLYDE VALLEY ML11 from 2000 (ex KL)
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Machine Cancellations:
Lanark Post Office was provided with a Krag cancelling machine. The earliest
known use was on 1st April 1936 and latest recorded use on 3rd February 1948
(Carter 2012).
1937
1939
1943
The Krag machine was replaced with a Universal cancelling machine. The
earliest recorded use of the Universal machine cancellation is 11 December
1950.
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Machine cancel has a wide gap between arcs and name 1957
Lanark Triangular die used in October 1960s (Postal census)
1964 (in red in error)
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1974
This machine cancel is an example of narrower lettering (see “A” in Lanark) and with the arc close to lettering, reported by Mackay as being in use between 1965
and 1986.
1975 slogan in transposed aspect
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Machine cancel has slightly broader lettering 1982
Paid Die 1986 (ex KL)
Last day of LANARK - 1987 (ex KL)
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Change of LANARK to CLYDE VALLEY ML11 1987
Use of red ink in 1990 (150 years since the Penny Black)
1997
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Special handstamps:
1975
1997
30
1999
Rubber datestamps:
1978
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Parcel Post Labels:
1901
1906
1913 (ex KL)
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1981
Lanark paid postage handstamp
Instructional marks
1d postage due 1913
1970 Green boxed postage due mark
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Unable to deliver 1970 backstamp
Unable to deliver for reason stated 1974
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Notice of amalgamation of Carluke and Lanark delivery offices at Home Street,
Lanark in 1996
Delivery Office handstamp 2002
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P739 form from 2010
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Counter datestamps:
1992 1994
1996 (with ML11 postcode)
2000 “curly-wurly”
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Lanark Post Office in 1980s (JM)
Lanark Post Office August 2013 following a fire in June
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Notice of closure on 14 June 2013 and details of nearest alternative Post offices
in Carstairs, Carnwath or Crossford
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Notice of a temporary Post Office in the Council Offices from 22 July 2013 –
open for 15 hours per week
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LANARK GRANDSTAND:
The Lanark International Aviation Meeting was held from 6th August to 13th
August 1910. At that meeting mail could be posted at the aerodrome or at the
grandstand. The Lanark Grandstand datestamp, normally used as a telegraphic
handstamp for race meetings, was utilised to deal with some of the mail posted at
the meeting. As there was a considerable amount of mail, only a portion of it was
dealt with at the Grandstand Post office, the remainder being forwarded to Lanark
Post Office for cancellation with the Lanark double ring canceller.
11 August 1910 .
Advertising Racing at Lanark but posted in Glasgow 1968
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WESTPORT:
Westport Post Office opened on 1 July 1927 and closed on 31 October 2008
(Smith 2012).
West Port Post office in the 1980s (JM)
1985 (ex KL)
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1997 1998
Counter datestamps
Gazette article from 2002
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Information leaflet issued when the Westport Post Office closed (ex KL)
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Meter Cancellations:
1995 (incorrectly dated as 2015) (ex KL)
1997
2000
2001 (ex KL)
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2005 (ex KL)
Christmas Posts:
Lanark Amateur Musical Society
Upper Clyde Operatic Society
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Lanark Ladies Circle (ex KL)
Lanark Ladies Circle pre 1994 (ex KL) and post 1994
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NEW LANARK:
New Lanark Post Office opened on 30th April 1852. Kirkwood’s supplied 2 handstamps at that time:
A bag seal and an undated local handstamp (ex Kirkwood’s proof books)
A double ring combined datestamp was provided by Kirkwood’s in October1897.
1906 1923 (ex KL)
By 1903 the sub-postmaster was James Graham. All mail came and went through
Lanark. Deliveries were at 8am & 3.50 & 8 pm; dispatches at 10am & 8.30 pm.
The nearest telegraph office was at Lanark, 1 mile distant.
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New Lanark Post Office in the 1920s
1932 (ex KL) 1959 (ex KL)
By 1932, New Lanark was using a NEW LANARK/LANARKSHIRE double
ring datestamp.
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1985
Site of the New Lanark Post Office in the 1980s (adjacent to site in the 1920s)
The Post Office was located in Mill three by the late 1980s.
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1989 2000
NEW LANARK/ LANARKSHIRE ML11 double ring datestamp with thin arcs.
Registration labels:
(ex KL)
Special handstamps:
1985
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1989
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1993 (variable date)
1997
1999
The New Lanark Post Office closed on 28 January 2009.
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Some early Post Office photographs were taken by Dr James Mackay (JM) and
are now in the Scottish Postal History library. All illustrations are either from our
personal collections (KL being those of Dr Ken Liddell), Terry Woods
(Lanarkshire Postal History Collection) or from the Kirkwood proof books. For
those interested in Lanarkshire or Scottish postal history, please click on the
following links. The Lanarkshire Postal History Collection
www.terrywoods.co.uk
The Scottish Postal History Society
http://www.sphs.org.uk
The Lanarkshire Philatelic Society http://www.lanarkshireps.co.uk/
References
Archer E (2010) Flying at Lanark. Stenlake Publishing Ltd
Auckland B (1995) Postal Markings of Scotland to 1840.
Ed R Stables 2nd Edition.
Carter PT (2012) Krag machine postmarks of Great Britain & Ireland.
British Postmark Society.
Hodgson K & Sedgewick WA (1984) The Scottish additional halfpenny mail
tax. 2nd Edition.
Kirkwood Proof Books (2012) Digitised copy of proof books held by Scottish
Postal History Society.
Mackay JA (1978) The skeleton postmarks of Scotland.
Mackay JA (1986) Machine cancellations of Scotland.
Mackay JA (1987) Scottish Numeral Postmarks.
Mackay JA (1989) Scottish Post Offices.
Malcolm D (1975) The Scottish International Aviation Meeting Lanark.
Post Office Directories National Library of Scotland website.
Smith K (2012) personal communication (British Postmark Society).
© Brian Dow 2013
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