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Thanks to cheap postage, businesses could interact with people in their own homes. Dominic Sandbrook investigates how the post office has shaped British society. From Dec 2011.

The post office played a vital role in the spread of mass consumerism.

Thanks to cheap postage, businesses could advertise and interact with people in their own homes. When it took over the Parcel Post in 1883 the Post Office offered the first genuinely joined up postal service, leading to a boom in mail order catalogues.

Writer and Presenter: Dominic Sandbrook

Musicians: Sam Lee, Bella Hardy, Mick Sands, Nick Hart

Actors: Morgan George, John Sessions, Simon Tcherniak,
Malcolm Tierney, Jane Whittenshaw

Producer: Joby Waldman
A Somethin Else production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

15 minutes

Last on

Wed 15 Aug 2018 02:15
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra

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See all episodes from The People's Post: A Narrative History of the Post Office

Broadcasts

  • Tue 13 Dec 2011 13:45
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Tue 15 Nov 2016 14:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 16 Nov 2016 02:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Tue 14 Aug 2018 14:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 15 Aug 2018 02:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 Extra