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News Release Thursday 20 August 1998, 14:15 GMT Thursday 20 August 1998 HERITAGE The Post Office POST OFFICE MUSEUM MUST CLOSE - BUT SEARCH IS ON FOR NEW CENTRE The Post Office today announced proposals which could put much more of its unique collection of social history on display. Internet access and the latest interactive presentation and communications technology would be used to attract more visitors. The site of the existing National Postal Museum at the King Edward Building in central London is being redeveloped and the museum has to close to the public at Christmas this year but plans to find and alternative location are already well underway. John Roberts, Chief Executive of The Post Office, said: 'The Post Office's heritage is a huge asset - as we are looking at proposals for a new centre to make it as accessible as possible in the new Millenium. 'A new centre would show the vital role The Post Office has played in service to the nation dating back 350 years, along with the latest, state-of-the-art technology in use today. 'Everyone in the country relies on their postal services, and any new centre would be an attraction to everyone,' said Mr Roberts. The present museum will close on December 24 1998. Its priceless collection of stamps will be moved to an expanded Post Office Archives Centre in Freeling House next door to the Mount Pleasant mail centre in the capital, where there are documents dating back to the creation of The Post Office in 1635. Visitors to the Archives Centre will be able by appointment to see the stamp collection in its new home in the New Year. Mr Roberts added: 'The improved Archives Centre in Freeling House will enable us to bring together a number of collections held in different parts of the organisation into an integrated collections management structure conforming to best practice in the museums sector.' The first benefits of the new approach will be seen in Post Office sponsored exhibitions being planned for venues nationwide during the next two to three years. Each will re-interpret traditional elements of the collection to reach a wider public audience. Notes to Editors: The National Postal Museum is currently at King Edward Building, King Edward Street, London EC1A 9LP. The museum is open Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, until December 24, 1998. The Post Office Archives Centre is located at Freeling House, Phoenix Place, London EC1A 1BB. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.15pm. Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of The Post Office

I copied it from a web site ! I expect they also had a 'large user' postcode for the move. I have been there Farringdon is the nearest tube about 5 -10 minutes walk. Excellent service. free to search Pension Service and establishment Records . small charge for copies. It will be a great help if you can give them approx dates /location Maurice