Horse drawn mail coach helps Britain celebrate 500 years of postal service

Britain's Royal Mail is celebrating its 500th birthday by recreating the routes used by its horse-drawn mail coaches in a series of celebratory events across the country.

The impressive Royal Mail coaches and horses, with coach driver, horn-blower and grooms dressed in traditional Royal Mail costume, are passing along modern-day roads based on original postal routes.

The first event took place on Saturday in Cardiff where the colourful mail coach traced a route through the city center.

The horse drawn mail coach will stage events in Edinburgh on Tuesday and Belfast next Saturday. It will culminate in a special event at The Guildhall in London on June 18.

A Post office spokesman explained the importance of the horse drawn mail coach.

"As pressure mounted to deliver letters more quickly, horse drawn coaches were deployed in 1784, following a trial run between Bristol and London. The mail coaches averaged almost 13 km/h in summer months with fresh horses supplied every 20 kilometers. The speed of the mail coach meant the 644-kilometer journey from London to Edinburgh took 60 hours, compared to 96 hours by a horse,"said the spokesman.

The Royal Mail, though, dates from 1516 when King Henry VIII knighted gave Sir Brian Tuke, the Master of the Posts, royal authority to establish a network of key post towns across the kingdom.

The Post Office spokesman said: "Each town had to have three horses available to transport packets of royal letters, and bring back news to the Royal court."

"Brian Tuke ensured that busy towns had to keep a special stable ready to carry mail at a moment's notice. It was the catalyst for the creation of the Royal Mail we know today," he said.

"Originally the service was the preserve of royalty and the Royal houses, but in 1635, King Charles I opened up the use of the King's Posts service to all, leading to the postal service in use today," the spokesman added.

In 1853, the iconic post boxes were introduced, an idea copied from France where they were already established. The first post boxes in London came two years later in 1855.

The 115,300 familiar red post boxes still in use are a feature in every city, town and village.

Caroline Rich, manager at the Cardiff Mail Center, said: "We were proud to celebrate our historic 500 years with a special procession in our capital city, demonstrating the pride we have in being part of this national network that connects consumers, companies and communities across the UK today."

Five centuries on, Royal Mail delivers letters six days a week to 29 million addresses across Britain.