Before we lose Royal Mail, remember Rowland Hill

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Before Royal Mail is parcelled up and flogged off, we should shed a few tears in memory of a Brighton resident who started the Mail as we know it (but for not much longer).

Rowland Hill, who lived near The Level in the mid-19th century, introduced uniform penny postage and the Penny Black stamp in 1840. He later promoted slits in front doors for home deliveries, roadside posting boxes and the creation of London’s postal districts.

Incidentally, he also brought in express trains and the day excursion to Brighton, thereby virtually creating Brighton as we know it. Hove in those days was known as West Brighton or, as we Brightonians still call it, the “West End”.


As David Coleman, the sports commentator would say, “If Rowland Hill was alive today, he’d be turning in his grave.”

Andy Steer, Windlesham Road,