The Tintagel Old Post Office is a 14th-century stone medieval manor house, situated in Tintagel, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. And yes, it was actually a post office at one point in its long existence.
The Grade I listed house, and its surrounding cottage garden, are under the care and ownership of the UK National Trust.
The name dates from the Victorian era when it briefly held a license as the letter receiving station for the district – a mere blip in time in this building’s 600-year history!
Nonetheless, it has been restored by the National Trust to how it appeared when it served as a postal station. The Trust acquired the property way back in 1903.
Today, the Tintagel Old Post Office and its gardens are open to guests and tourists during the warmer months.
Below you can see the antique red postal box, built into the stone facade.
The last private owner of the property was Catherine Eliza Johns who commissioned the architect Detmar Blow to renovate it in 1896.
Below the rear of the Tintagel Old Post Office is shown:
Catherine Johns bought the building in 1895 in order to prevent its demolition. She and a number of other artists then raised money to enable the National Trust to buy it from her.
With its famous wavy slate roof, this old place is bursting with character and historical intrigue.
Below is a vintage postcard of the Tintagel Old Post Office (date unknown) when the roof wasn’t looking so stellar:
Today, thanks to the foresight of Ms. Catherine Johns and the stewardship of the National Trust, this place has been impeccably preserved for posterity.
Let’s have a look inside!
The interior is set up as a museum of sorts, showcasing both its post office history, as well as its roots as a 14th-century yeoman’s farmhouse.
Items on display include Victorian postal equipment, a selection of antiques, and furniture dating back to the 16th century!
Part of the building has a vaulted ceiling with exposed original rafter beams, and the other part houses a second story with two bedrooms.
The bedrooms:
What a marvelous step-back-in-time it is to walk through the Tintagel Old Post Office!
Sources:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tintagel-old-post-office
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintagel_Old_Post_Office
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Oh! I’ve toured this unique building. Loved it. And loved Tintagel. I’d go back again in a moment.