Fore Street, Tintagel, PL34 0DB
Tel: (01840) 770024
Email: tintageloldpo@nationaltrust.org.uk
Web: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/tintagel-old-post-office
Delightful medieval building
A small and fascinating 14th century stone house built to the plan of a medieval manor house, with a large hall. It was used in the 19th century for nearly fifty years as the letter receiving office for the district and is now restored to that period and function. The building was acquired by the National Trust in 1903. The name dates from the Victorian period when it briefly held a licence to be the letter receiving station for the district.
The Old Post Office came to the National Trust empty of contents, apart from a late medieval kitchen table situated in the Hall. The rooms have been furnished with items from farmhouses and cottages in the vicinity. One of the rooms remains as a Victorian village post office, and outside on the wall is an example of the first standard wall letter box of 1857. The Old Post Office is also home to a unique collection of historic needlework samplers dating from the mid-17th century.
The house was used for several businesses during the Victorian period, all of which were a side-line to farming. The building is recorded as having been used as a greengrocers, dressmakers, draper’s, and shoemakers. The final use of the building was as the letter-receiving office for the village, sometime between 1870 - 1878.
By the late 19th century the house was in a bad state of repair and was in danger of being demolished. Thankfully, it was saved by a local group who bought the house from an auction, having raised the funds to buy it.
In the centre of the village on Fore Street.
Opening TimesApril - October Admission Charged |
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