The earliest picture postcards in the UK date from 1894 as it was not until 1st September of that year that the post office allowed postcards published by others to be posted.
Early postcard of Rodborough Fort with undivided back.
From 1895 onwards, a size of 4.75 ins x 3.5ins was adopted for postcards. These cards were known as Court Cards. The address was written on one side and the reverse had a small picture leaving sufficient space to write a message.
A later postcard of the fort with a divided back.In 1902 the post office changed the rules so that the picture could take up the whole of the front of the postcard. The message and the address both appeared on the back. The message on the left hand side and the address on the right. From around September 1902 publishers printed postcards with a line dividing the back.
I just wanted to say thank you for putting together this wonderful website – and especially for the timeline.
I have lived on Rodborough Hill for 10 years now, and the fort has always been a source of fascination and mystery.
I was delighted to find so much information about its history, and have learned a lot!
Best wishes
Tim
Thanks for the kind comments. I am glad it has been helpful.