2-791-735 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The General Post-Office; The Inland Letter Office, 1844. Workers in the main post office at St Martin's Le Grand in London. 'The inland sorters' room...is well ventilated...in height it is about seventy-eight feet. In the central portion of the roof is an extensive sky-light, which, with three sash-windows near the top of the walls at each end, are the only places where the light of day is admitted. At the southern end of this spacious room is placed a long table, transversely fixed, upon which the letters are thrown as they are from time to time received from the boxes or brought into the office from the different collecting carts employed for that purpose throughout the metropolis. Ranged in rows, diversely placed, are other tables used for the purposes of the duty - such as stamping, examining, and assorting letters'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I.