There has been an official Postal service in Britain since 1516 established as a branch of the English Govenment by Henry VIII, but didn’t take on its recognisable form until mid 1800’s (more about the history of the Royal Mail)
There was a sub Post Office in Carbrooke by 1854, as Whites Directory of Norfolk states.
By 1871, Samuel Skipper and wife Charlotte, were running the post office.
Their daughter Clara later married William Murrell, and they carried on running the Post Office.
1883 Whites Directory & Gazeteer of Norfolk POST OFFICE at Mr. Samuel Skipper’s. Letters from Watton arrive at 7.30 a.m. and are despatched at 5.25 p.m.; Sundays, 10.55 a.m. Watton is the nearest Money Order and Telegraph Office.
The original Post office, is in the line of buildings opposite the church. It is dated 1867, with the initials RD ( presumably Richard Dewing, local land owner).
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | SAMUEL | SKIPPER | 39 | M | HEAD-MARRIED | GROCER & DRAPER | SHROPHAM NFK |
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | CHARLOTTE | SKIPPER | 37 | F | WIFE-MARRIED | SHROPHAM NFK | |
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | ADELAIDE | SKIPPER | 11 | F | DAU | SCHOLAR | ERSWELL SFK |
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | CLARA | SKIPPER | 10 | F | DAU | SCHOLAR | SHIPDHAM NFK |
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | EMMA | HUNT | 22 | F | SHOPMAID | SHROPHAM NFK | |
| 1871 | RG10 1842 P34 West | CHURCH STREET | 8 | ELIZABETH | NICHOLS | 18 | F | DOMESTIC SERVANT | SAHAM TONEY NFK |
| Name:Samuel Skipper Age:49 Estimated Birth Year: 1832 Head Spouse: Charlotte Skipper Age: 47 Where born: Shropham, Norfolk, England Occupation: Grocer & Draper Registration District: WaylandED, Piece:1975Folio:22Page Number:10 Other Household Members: Clara E. Skipper 19 Mary A. Wyer 17 (not transcribed) |
| 1891 | RG12 1550 P.42-53 | CHURCH STREET 4 | 99 | SAMUEL | SKIPPER | 60 | M | M | HEAD | GROCER & POSTMASTER | SHROPHAM NORFOLK | |
| 1891 | RG12 1550 P.42-53 | CHURCH STREET 4 | 99 | CHARLOTTE | SKIPPER | 58 | F | M | WIFE | GROCER ASSISTANT | SHROPHAM NORFOLK | |
| 1891 | RG12 1550 P.42-53 | CHURCH STREET 4 | 99 | CLARA | SKIPPER | 29 | F | S | DAU | GROCER ASSISTANT | SHIPDHAM NORFOLK |
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | CHARLOTTE | SKIPPER | 67 | F | HEAD | SUB POSTMISTRESS | SHROPHAM NORFOLK | WID |
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | WILLIAM | MURRELL | 49 | M | SON IN LAW | CARPENTER & FLOUR DEALER &RURAL POSTMAN | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | M |
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | CLARA ELIZA | MURRELL | 39 | F | DAU | ASST IN POST OFFICE | SHIPDHAM NORFOLK | M |
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | HILDA G | MURRELL | 8 | F | GRAND DAU | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | ||
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | GILBERT W | MURRELL | 7 | M | GRAND SON | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | ||
| 1901 | R13 1868 P.68-103 | POST OFFICE | 83 | ADELAIDE M | MURRELL | 1 | F | GRAND DAU | CARBROOKE NORFOLK |
| 1911 | 231-2-3 | POST OFFICE CHURCH STREET NORFOLK | 128 | WILLIAM | MURRELL | 50 | M | HEAD | SUBPOSMASTER & FLOUR DEALER | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | |||
| 1911 | 231-2-3 | POST OFFICE CHURCH STREET NORFOLK | 128 | CLARA ELIZA | MURRELL | 49 | M | WIFE | SUBPOSMASTER & FLOUR DEALER | SHIPDHAM NORFOLK | 19 | 4 | 4 |
| 1911 | 231-2-3 | POST OFFICE CHURCH STREET NORFOLK | 128 | GILBERT WILLIAM | MURRELL | 17 | S | SON | PAINTER | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | |||
| 1911 | 231-2-3 | POST OFFICE CHURCH STREET NORFOLK | 128 | ADELAIDE MARY | MURRELL | 11 | DAU | SCHOLAR | CARBROOKE NORFOLK | ||||
| 1911 | 231-2-3 | POST OFFICE CHURCH STREET NORFOLK | 128 | REGINALD HARRY | MURRELL | 9 | SON | SCHOLAR | CARBROOKE NORFOLK |
Mrs Smith retired as Postmistress around 1980, and the post office was relocated for a short time in Broadmoor Road, before it closed late 1980’s.
A post office also operated from Maid Marian stores on Norwich Road. It later closed.
A post office was installed into Spar mini Market around 2017, where it remains.
Page last Updated 17.08.20