Postman outside Totley Post Office, 1 Hillfoot Road.

After mail coaches were established in 1784, a two-sheet letter would cost 2/- (or lOp) for 300 miles, certainly a very expensive form of communicating. When the Penny Post was established in 1840, some 76 million letters were being sent annually at the cost of 1 penny for letters up to ½ ounce in weight with an additional penny for every further ½ oz. At the same time, postage stamps were introduced.

Up to that date, according to Gibson's ‘History of Dore', the nearest post office to Totley was Dronfield. Letters were only delivered on a Sunday when the man who brought them charged one penny per letter over and above the postage which was never less than fourpence (for the minimum of 15 miles).

After the Penny Post, all letters for Totley and Dore were apparently sent to Sheffield Post Office and then taken to the Cutlers Arms on New Church Street and left there. "That particular inn was most frequented by Totley people when in town and they collected their letters there."

The first record of a postman in Totley appears to be in 1852 when the Directory gives William Millward. He doesn't appear to have been a native of the district. By 1860 post was arriving via Sheffield and Dore whilst about that time, a mailcoach was running daily between Totley and Bakewell (Sunday excepted) at 10.30 a.m. returning to the Cross Scythes at 6.30 p.m. An ordnance survey map of 1876 clearly shows a Post Office letter box in the approximate position of the present Fleur de Lys entrance. The original now-demolished Fleur was in 1876 set much further back.

By this time, Joseph Baxby was Totley's postman. He came from an old Totley family who had lived here since at least 1800. Joseph was born about 1824 and by the age of 15 was apprenticed to John Marshall, a local file cutter. In his early twenties he married Martha, a local girl, and they had two children. In 1849, Joseph was a regular chapel-goer, being a trustee of the newly-erected Wesley Chapel off Hillfoot Road. At that time, he appears to have lived by Toft House on Totley Hall Lane. He seems to have given up his trade to become a shop-keeper by 1864.

Until 1893, Joseph Baxby remained as sub-postmaster (and school attendance officer) living by that time at Rose Cottage, above the Crown Inn. This colourful character died in 1894 and the family are buried in Dore Churchyard. William Green then became Totley sub-postmaster and his office was the top of the now derelict three cottages on Totley Hall Lane (opposite the church drive).

By this time, Totley Rise, too, had its own post office run from the grocery shop of John Gill (the new opticians occupies the site now). William Green's house was used as a money order and telegraph office - the railway to Chinley had now been opened and Totley was expanding rapidly. By 1895 there was even a wall letter box on Totley Brook Road. Totley Post Office was later moved to a house on the corner of Summer Lane before it moved to its present site. Perhaps we should leave the 20th century Totley Post to another issue. In the meantime, we would be glad to hear about any postal memories.

Totley Independent
Issue 10 April 1978

Open All Hours

         Totley Post Office, 337 Baslow Road



On a sunny Easter Monday, 6th April, 1931, Elsie Norman was married to Herbert Perkinton at the Mount Zion Chapel, Clowne, Derbyshire. Mr. Perkinton was, at that time, caretaker-ambulance driver for the 'Isolation Hospital' at Bakewell, (not to be confused with the Cottage Hospital) and the newly-weds went to live there in a part-furnished cottage. 

After a while, on the advice of a friend, they decided to look for a Post Office. This proved not to be an easy task and they travelled as far as Barnsley, rejecting Totley Post Office early in their search. But after returning for a second look they decided to take the risk, despite the fact that it was the centre of a very small community, for they had been told quite firmly, by the Head Post Master, that if (as had been the case) it was to change hands again he would take the Office away. They moved in October 13th 1936, to remain for 37½ years. During that time, determined to make a go of the business, they stayed open until 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday during the summer months, serving the week-end ramblers and cyclists with sweets and ice cream. Mrs. Perkinton was renowned for her variety of chocs and sweets; even during the war, people used to queue at week-ends for their ration. 

In those early years, first the Milners and then Colonel Tozer were in residence at Totley Hall and it was not until the early 1950's that the Totley College opened its doors to the first 50 girl students. Discipline was strict then, and the uniform of green dresses and cardigans, with green and yellow scarves was rigidly adhered to. As the College increased in numbers, the Post Office became busier and when Mrs. Perkinton needed an operation and convalescence, it was decided that their only son John, should leave his job to help run the business. 

After Mr. Perkinton had a serious operation in 1962, he went into semi-retirement, leaving John and his mother to run the Post Office between them. It was not until Johns' marriage in 1964 that Mr. and Mrs. Perkinton were able to have their first holiday since 1936. During this time, the face of Totley was changing, cottages were being pulled down and an estate was being built on the land of the old Totley Grange. When increasing ill-health made nursing of Mr. Perkinton necessary, they decided to retire and finally left the Post Office in May 1974, to live in nearby Main Avenue. 

Mrs. Perkinton celebrated her 80th Birthday on Christmas Day, 1980 and with her careful nursing and attention, Mr. Perkinton goes forward to the celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary on April 6th, 1981. It is with the greatest of pleasure that we are able to congratulate them on this occasion and hope that in this very small way, we have acknowledged their long service to the community.

Totley Independent
Issue 45, April 1981

Llandrindod Wells Signpost

         Totley Hall Lane and Baslow Road junction



A poor quality version of this photograph appeared on the front page of Totley Independent Issue 233 in May 2000. It was thought to date from the early 1940s. As well as noting how little Totley Post Office and the Fleur-de-Lys had changed since the photograph was taken, the article mentioned the signpost just inside the farmyard which bears the words Llandrindod Wells 139 miles. The reason for the signpost's existence was not known and no subsequent explanation was forthcoming from the Independent's readers.

From other postcards in the same series, we can now date the photograph to about 1937, four years after the Fleur-de-Lys was rebuilt and the year after Elsie and Herbert Perkinton moved into the Post Office. Also, a newspaper placard appears to say "Britain Warns Franco" which was a frequently repeated headline during 1937 and 1938. The signpost itself was erected in 1931-32 and was one of a number scattered around England to promote holidays in the small Radnorshire spa town, noted for its outstanding scenery and outdoor pursuits. Photographs of bemused motorists looking at similar signposts in Kenilworth, Warwickshire and Fareham, Hampshire appeared in newspapers. The organisers were the Llandrindod Wells Traders' Association who even had the nerve to place a signpost on the outskirts of Bath which drew a stinging rebuke of "Spa Wars" from Punch. The Totley signpost was painted green as was noted in the Sheffield Green 'Un on 23 September 1933. It was the only one in the Sheffield area. 

In the 1930s Llandrindod Wells catered particularly for those on motoring holidays of Mid-Wales and was the centre for an annual international six-day motor-cycle reliability trial. It also had its own railway station. Third class monthly return fares to selected holiday locations were advertised in the Sheffield newspapers and priced at 1d. per mile. In 1936 the fare from Sheffield to Llandrindod Wells was 25s. 6d. (153 miles) but special offers would reduce this considerably. 

It is not known when the signpost was removed.

July 2021