The purpose of this paper is to examine mail-coach services during the British Industrial Revolution and to consider their role in the integration of regional economies. The first section of the paper investigates postal services before the introduction of mail coaches in 1784. Since the end of the 17th century, when a wider market began to emerge, the post had been playing an important role in transmitting business correspondence and bills to distant places, thus enabling companies to expand the sphere of their activities nationwide. The quality of postal services was, however, quite poor because their operations were monopolized by the government. The second section of the paper examines the development of the mail-coach network and changes in postal services. Examination of manuscripts of the General Post Office and commercial directories indicate that a close-knit and extensive network was established by the 1820s and that speed, reliability, and safety of the postal services were substantially improved. In conclusion, the significance of mail-coach services was that by transmitting intelligence and money, difficulties posed by time and distance were overcome and the basis for the integration of regional economies was formed. It is noteworthy that the growth of the banking system paralleled the development of mail-coach services. Mail coaches also helped the social and cultural integration of regions as a medium for communication.
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