Preston Old Road Post Office

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell you about a place that's seen more than just stamps and letters. I'm talkin' 'bout the Preston Old Road Post Office, a place that's as much a part of the community as the local pub (and that's sayin' something!).

Once Upon a Time in Preston

Now, picture this. It's the 19th century, Preston's a bustlin' town, and the good ol' Royal Mail decides it's high time they set up shop. So, they build this grand, red-brick beauty on Old Road. It's like they said, "If we're gonna do this, we're doin' it in style!"

But here's where it gets interesting. This wasn't just any post office. Oh no, it was a veritable hub of activity. You'd have your milkman, your baker, your candlestick maker (well, maybe not the last one), all under one roof. It was like the United Nations of Preston, all united by the power of the postal service.

Meet the Postmaster: Part-Time Hero, Full-Time Legend

Now, let me introduce you to the postmaster. This wasn't your average 9-to-5 job. Oh no, this was a round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week kinda gig. And who better to take on this monumental task than good ol' Harry Hargreaves?

Harry, he was a legend. He'd be up at the crack of dawn, sorting mail, delivering parcels, and probably saving the occasional cat from a tree. I mean, have you ever tried to deliver mail to a cat stuck in a tree? It's a nightmare, I tell ya.

And get this, folks. Harry wasn't just your average postmaster. No, no, no. He was also a part-time firefighter. I know, right? Talk about multitasking. He'd be delivering letters in the morning, putting out fires in the afternoon, and still have time for a pint at the local pub. Now that's what I call a superhuman.

Surprises Around Every Corner

But here's where things get really interesting. You know those secret rooms they find in old houses? Well, the Preston Old Road Post Office had its fair share. Turns out, there was a hidden room upstairs. I mean, who knows what went on in there? Secret meetings? A hidden speakeasy? The mind boggles.

Pictures show inside Preston’s Old Post Office – Blog Preston

And get this, folks. There was even a tunnel! Yes, you heard me right. A tunnel that led from the post office to the nearby railway station. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm imaging all sorts of spy-like activities going on down there. Maybe it was just a shortcut for Harry to deliver the mail quicker, but where's the fun in that?

From Post Office to... Pub?

Now, you'd think that after all these years, the post office would just... well, keep being a post office. But no, that wouldn't be nearly as interesting, would it? So, in the 1990s, the post office ups and moves out, leaving the old building empty.

But fear not, dear listeners. The building wasn't left to rot. Oh no, it was given a new lease on life. A liquid lease, if you will. It became the Old Post Office Pub. I mean, what better way to honor the building's past than by serving up pints and pies?

And there you have it, folks. The Preston Old Road Post Office. From its humble beginnings as a bustling hub of activity to its current incarnation as a watering hole, it's a building that's seen it all. And I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way.