Kimpton Post Office - circa 1920s Card published by G. Matthews, Post Office Stores, Kimpton, in "The Vulcan Series".

George Matthews published a number of post cards of Kimpton, which were sold in the post office. He would appear to be a good example of the success of Victorian education, as it is clear he must have been competent in wrting and arithmetic to rise to the job in the post office. He was born in Wheathampstead in 1852 the eldest child of James (an agricultural labourer) and Eliza. He was one of a large family and most of his life in Kimpton. By the time of the 1871 census he was an "apprentice bootmaker". He married Louisa Crane in 1873 and by 1881 was a "Boot & Legging Maker Employing 1 Man & 1 Boy" He was first listed as sub-postmaster at Kimpton in 1899 and the 1901 census returns show:

His wife Louisa died in 1909 and a year later he married Emily J North, the 1911 census showing:

The 1912 Kelly's Directory records: "Post, M.O. & T. & Telephonic Express Delivery Office. - George Matthews, sub-postmaster. Letters received through Welwyn, via Codicote, delivered at 7.30 a.m. & 4 p.m.; dispatched at 8.15 & 11.30 a.m. & 6.40 p.m.; sundays, delivered at 7.30 a.m. & dispatched at 11.45 a.m. The Parcels Post received & dispatched at the same time as mails."  It also lists "Matthews Geo. boot maker, Post Office." He was similarly listed in the 1922 and 1929 directories. He is listed as a draper and post office in 1933, dying in that year at the age of 81.  His daughter "Matthews Ida (Miss), draper & post office" was listed in 1937.