Hollebone Tree Worldwide
Hailsham Post Office cont;
During the 1880s one end of 'Fleur de Lys' (the market end) was destroyed by fire. The story is told that during the fire my father. Thomas Calvin Snashall. then a lad.could not be found anywhere. He was eventually located in Mr. Albert Burkenshaw's study at 'St Mary's, a large house on the corner of Marshfoot Lane. He had grabbed the mail, took it over to Mr.Burtenshaw's and was sorting and getting the mail ready for despatch. That end of Fleur de Lys was never restored, the old Fire Station (appropriately) was built on the site.
Following the frre, Mr.Benjamin Stonestreet, for Thomas Snashall, built the house and office on the corner of Marshfoot Lane.This later was the Midland Bank but then was the Post Office until Thomas Snashall retired in 1908.when the Post office moved to North Street.
At that time the Post Office was open from 8am to 7.30 pm, and from 8.30am to 10 am on Sundays.The messenger boys worked from 8am to 6pm from the age of 11 or 12. I used to fill in the evening stint, being paid on a mileage basis, one old penny for the first mile and so on. On Wednesdays when the Horsebridge sub-
Fire near Post Office 1880
Reproduced by courtesy of Baker Photos