Herne Bay Post Office

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, a delivery driver noticed an odd message scribbled on every package he picked up: ‘Herne Bay Post Office: letters delivered twice.’ The packages seemed normal until they reached their destinations—only then did recipients realize some mail had indeed arrived earlier than expected. Soon enough, word spread around town that Herne Bay Post Office was somehow sending letters back in time. People started joking about receiving bills from future jobs or invitations to weddings not yet planned. One day, a regular received a letter addressed to himself—a week before it was actually mailed. Turned out, it was just an overzealous intern playing pranks with the stamps.

2. In the early hours of one foggy morning, a postal worker heard a strange humming sound coming from inside Herne Bay Post Office. At first, it sounded like bees, but as he approached, he realized it was more like… laughter? The hum grew louder whenever mail arrived, and soon neighbors reported hearing it too. Finally, one day, an old lady came in asking for her pension check. She said she’d been hearing that funny noise for weeks. Turns out, every time she opened her envelope, it made that exact same hum. Since then, everyone calls it ‘the laughing post office.’

3. At closing time, an elderly lady approached the counter and asked the clerk with a twinkle in her eye: ‘Do you know why they call it Herne Bay?’ The clerk smiled and replied, 'No ma’am, I don’t.' She leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, 'Because when the mailman delivers here, he always leaves by another route!'

4. A local mailman delivered letters as usual, but one day found each envelope had been doodled on with tiny drawings of seagulls. Curious, he asked his neighbors if anyone saw anything unusual around the post office. Turned out it was just a prank by a local artist who lived above the shop and loved drawing seagulls. From then on, whenever someone received mail from Herne Bay, they’d smile at the little seaside scenes.