Great Post Office Robbery

When a Langton Long postman opened up Blandford Post Office on a Sunday morning in April 1949, he discovered quite a surprise. A London based gang had blown the door of the strong room wide open. The robbers had got away with £12,000 worth of cash, stamps and savings vouchers (about £445,000 in today’s money.) The thieves were apparently aware that the Post Office would be unoccupied from 9.00pm on Saturday evening until its opening early on Sunday morning.

Post bags had been placed around the door to muzzle the noise of the explosion and the door of the strong room had been completely blown out. The Head Postmaster’s office had also been completely ransacked. The police suspected the raiders made their getaway along the Blandford-Warminster road. So, a 25 mile search was carried out along the road behind walls, hedges and fences looking for gelignite and other equipment. The police regarded the break-in as highly skilled. At the time, Percy Carter was the owner of the town’s two cinemas, the Ritz and the Palace. It was believed the raiders gained access through the cinema owner’s garden. Two large crowbars were discovered in his garden later that Sunday morning.

Five London men were arrested the following month including a sales manager and a company director.

In 1935, the new Blandford Post Office had been opened by Mayor Miss Ellen Castleman-Smith (featured) who was supported by Council members. She was to be the town’s mayor on five occasions. The previous Post Office could be found in West Street and had closed because it was not considered to be a healthy working environment. After the opening of the new building, the Deputy Mayor, Alderman W J Newman bought the first stamps sold across the counter. A dinner was held in the Masonic Hall to celebrate its opening. The chair was taken by Head Postmaster, Mr S Turner and 120 sat down to ‘an excellent dinner.’ At this time, the predominately male Blandford Post Office workforce was around 40 people.

(Illustration: Opening the new Post Office in May 1935)

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