It was once the only way to communicate, other than by phone, but the age of email and cost cuts saw the gradual demise of post offices. Our archived photos remind us of the post offices we all used in times past - especially at Christmas.

1. A post office Christmas
This was the scene in the sorting office at the busiest time of the year - December 1987 | National World

2. A post office Christmas
No caption with this photo of staff sorting the mail - are you in the picture? | National World

3. A post office Christmas
Postal workers in the midst of the Christmas rush at Preston Railway Station on December 23, 1935 | National World

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