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Scotland: discovering the Sanquhar post office, the oldest in the world
Scotland: discovering the Sanquhar post office, the oldest in the world – (France 2)
Friday October 27, the 13 Hours weekend takes you to discover the Sanquhar post office (Scotland), the oldest in the world. According to its owner, it is “a bit of a jewel in the British crown”.
The post office of Sanquhar (Scotland) is the oldest in the world. 311 years of uninterrupted service, a very serious title that its owner displays with modest pride. “OUR office is a bit of a jewel in the British crown. I want to do everything so that it gains popularity. The second oldest is in Stockholm, but he is eight years younger than us.” assures Barry Ford, the owner. For the past month, Barry and his wife Mary have been the new guardians of this heritage, the sixteenth owners.
A listed building
The post office of Sanquhar is the heart of the village since 1712. At the beginning of postal services, it was an essential place of passage for postmen and their horses. Since then, the small village post office has prospered, in particular thanks to a family who ran it for several generations. “I fell in love with the building. He is incredible. It has remained as it was at the time, because it is a listed building.explains Barry Ford. For the 2,000 inhabitants of the village, this little piece of history still punctuates the daily life of the community.