WE tend to take the post for granted - and even call it "snail mail" in this world of text, twitter and emails - but is was once the only method to send log-distance communications.

Hundreds of examples of how the post was used for personal and business messages went on display in a meeting held at Ambleside of the Cumbrian Postal History Society.

Everything from Edwardian picture postcards to licences to keep a dog - or even a man servant - were shown by enthusiasts.

Many featured adhesive postage stamps but there were some examples of letters sent before the first stamp - the penny black - was introduced by Great Britain in 1840.

Before the advent of the penny post, letters and packages were charged by how many miles they had travelled and the person recieving the post had to pay the charges.

One envelope from 1901 was covered in stamps and postmarks to show an extra registration fee had been paid to send an envelope from Barrow, via Broughton, to Milom solicitor Mr J. A. Dickinson.

Sometimes the same kind of inked handstamp used on envelopes was also used on official documents issued by post office staff.

One example dated January 1921 recorded payment of seven shillings and sixpence (37p) at Barrow for a dog licence.

It was issued to Alfred Jones of Forshaw Street - mostly demolished to make way for the Portland Walk shopping centre.

If you kept a dog over six months old without a licence the fine was £5.

The back of the licence gave the symptoms to look out for in a dog with rabies.

Many villages, large towns and even cities have lost their traditional main post office - Ulverston is under threat and the Lancaster main office is closed - with services now provided on the top floor of in W.H. Smith.

Back in the 1960s, even tiny places had sub-offices with their own postal handstamp - such as Chapel Stile, near Elterwater.

The Elterwater post office was run by Mr G. W. Sanderson from his grocer's shop.

There were printed forms and labels for 101 different uses at post offices - including one stamped at Seascale in 1951 to officially redirect a bundle of packets to the Queens Hotel in Cheltenham.

A free supper at the Imperial Hotel was provided for the friends and colleagues of Whitehaven postmaster Mr D. L. Shepherd on February 16 in 1902 - and a special menu card was printed to mark the occasion.

On offer - to mark what looks to have been his retirement - was everything from boiled salmon and cucumber to roast sirloin of beef - followed by "pudding a la Whitehaven".