The Old Post Office - Melbourne Street

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The Old Post Office - Melbourne Street

Joseph Cross, a clock and watchmaker, had initially operated from a room in Melbourne House (across the road), before building the single-story premises, now part of the ‘Old Post Office’ in 1856.

He went on to take over the adjoining property, on the corner of Emms Lane, when John Boulter gave up his shoe-making business there. His son, George Cross, a grocer, baker and postmaster, took over the buildings and had a six-bushel oven and flower loft at the back of the shop.

Can you picture a tall elderly lady wearing light grey and white, standing behind the provision counter at the old post office? She was Miss Symes, and a partner with Miss Cross in the running of the shop there. Butter, sugar, soda and cheese all had to be weighed and packed while the customer waited, and Miss Symes, together with her young assistant, stood stiffly to attention to serve whoever had made the doorbell jangle as they entered. Many people could not afford to pay for their purchases until Friday evening or payday, so a little red book was kept on the counter to enter all such transactions. Miss Symes wrote in it with her painstaking copperplate hand. The assistant was not allowed to touch it.

Miss Cross was much stouter and usually wore dark colours, touched up with a little white collar and cuffs. She was the granddaughter of a watch- and clock-maker from Trowbridge, and succeeded her father in charge of the post office, running it with great efficiency. Both ladies took pride in their part of the shop, which shone with cleanliness. Although they were both elderly, it was a shock to the village when they eventually retired and moved away.

This wonderful photo shows the Royal British Legion parading past the post office in Bratton (circa 1957) courtesy of June Robinson's albums. June at the front bearing the Wiltshire Women's Section banner. Her son, Brian (aged about 10) is the young lad facing the camera in the foreground.

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