Page 37 - Fenning_Scoland

Frame 5

1660 - mid 1670'5

King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660. At this date, the only official postal service in
Scotland was along the section of the North Road between Edinburgh and Berwick.

In 1662 the first official service within Scotland opened, from Edinburgh to Glasgow and
continuing on to Ayr and Port Patrick. In 1667 a postal route north from Edinburgh was initiated,
from Edinburgh to Aberdeen. Two years later that route was extended further north from
Aberdeen to Inverness via Elgin.

Initially postage rates within Scotland were defined between Edinburgh and each town but, in
1669, rates became defined in mileage bands: up to 40 miles, up to 60 miles, up to 80 miles.
Rates were always specified in Scots currency and mileages in Scots miles.
Frame 5 includes a selection of letters carried privately or by Burgh Posts, a letter carried by the
official post from London to Edinburgh, and one of the eartiest recorded letters carried within
Scotland (Edinburgh to Aberdeen) that has an official postal rate (2 shillings Scots).

Frame 6

Mid 1670'5 to mid 1680'5

The next ten years of postal developments, including:

• the appearance of manuscript town marks on some Scottish letters: three examples are
shown: the two earliest recorded town marks for Ayr and an early town mark for Glasgow
• a 'Free' letter from Edinburgh's 'Keeper of the Letter Office', Robert Mein, sealed with the
Edinburgh Letter Office's seal

Frame 7

1680'5 to early 1690'5

This period experienced considerable political turmoil in Scotland and England.

Such was the political opposition to James, Duke of York, a Catholic, being in line for the throne,
that he was exiled to Edinburgh until 1682. Chartes II died in 1685 and James became King
James II. Immediately after this was the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, which failed. In 1688/89
the 'Glorious Revolution' resulted in James losing his kingdoms and being replaced by William
and Mary. In 1689 a Jacobite army was raised to restore James to the throne but this rising failed.
And, from 1689, England was engaged in war with France - the War of the Grand Alliance.

Frame 7 includes some notable postal history related to the events of the time:

• a private letter from Edinburgh to London from the future King James II while he was in
exile in Edinburgh
• an eyewitness account of the Battle of Dunkeld, a decisive battle of the first Jacobite rising
• a letter endorsed by the Post Office 'with hazard' because of the disruption to the mail and
threat of invasion posed by the war with France