Rowland Hill Brown Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Sir Rowland Hill was a British teacher, inventor, and social reformer, best known for originating the modern postal system in England. Born in 1795 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Hill first worked as a schoolmaster. However, he became increasingly interested in reforming the British postal system, which was inefficient, expensive, and prone to corruption.

In 1837, Hill published a pamphlet titled “Post Office Reform: Its Importance and Practicability”, proposing a radical overhaul of the postal system. His key idea was the introduction of the “Penny Post” – a flat rate of one penny per half ounce, regardless of distance within the UK. He also suggested prepayment of postage using adhesive stamps and more efficient sorting and delivery methods.

Despite initial resistance, Hill’s proposals were eventually adopted in 1840, revolutionizing postal communication in Britain and inspiring similar reforms worldwide. The Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp, was issued that year. Hill served as Secretary to the Postmaster General and was knighted in 1860 for his services. He retired in 1864 and died at his home, 1 Orme Square in London’s Bayswater, in 1879 at the age of 83. A true visionary, Sir Rowland Hill’s reforms laid the foundation for the modern postal system we know today.

Orme Square, where Hill spent his final years, is located in the Royal Borough of Westminster. This historic borough in central London is home to many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. The area has been a center of political, royal, and cultural life for centuries, making it a fitting place of residence for a figure as influential as Sir Rowland Hill.