Deanshanger Post Office
Post Offices became an essential element of life in any town or village with the advent in 1840 of the issue nationally of the first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, and the setting up of the Penny Post, by which letters could be sent for one penny.
Deanshanger has long had its own village Post Office which was originally located in High Street on the corner of Church Lane and remained there until 2015, after which it relocated into the 'Top Shop' in Puxley Road.
Mrs Jane Rogers was the first Post Mistress in the village and reputedly the first in the whole country. Jane was married to John, a Master Boot-maker, they were recorded in the 1881 census as having seven children (5 boys and 2 girls) aged 1-15, four of whom were attending the village school. John's business at this time employed 1 man and 1 boy.
According to the 1911 census Jane was still running the Post Office and grocery shop as a widow aged 64, assisted by her daughters Edith Isabel aged 23 and Jessie Ethel aged 21. The tradition of female Post Mistresses was continued with Jessie, who later became Mrs Cattel on her marriage, took over from her mother and subsequently Isabel Clarke (nee Rogers), Jane’s Granddaughter, took over from Jessie.
In 1969, the national 'General Post Office' was dissolved this eventually led to the establishment of Franchise Post Offices in addition to Main and Sub Post Offices. Deanshanger became a Franchise Post Office, but unusually had its own Sorting Office and team of village post men and women.