Royal Mail Mount Pleasant Sorting Office officially opens

Background. The Mount Pleasant site, known internally as the Mount, was historically a prison. In 1887, the Treasury sanctioned the use of the former treadmill house as a temporary parcel sorting office, allowing the General Post Office to meet the Christmas rush. The sale of the remaining site required legislative action, specifically the Post Office (Sites) Act 1889, which also mandated provisions for open space.

Legislative Context. The Post Office (Sites) Act 1889 was crucial for the development of the site. It enabled the sale of the land and required the Post Office to provide either a portion of the site or £10,000 to the London County Council for open space. This act paved the way for the official opening of the sorting office in August 1889.

Site Usage. Initially, existing prison buildings housed various Post Office departments. The bakehouse became the Post Office Stores Department, the governor's house served the Telegraph Superintending Engineer, and the chapel accommodated clerks of the Money Order Office. These arrangements preceded the construction of new buildings designed by Sir Henry Tanner, which began in the 1890s.