Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

[Sun Chariot]

The Tyoe C double-aperture, typically sited in higher-volume / higher-demand posting locations, is - to me - a wonderfully chunky design.

Yes @weepingwillowb , over the past 120+ years, the Type C has varied; and we have a few super examples upthread:
London - some absolute gems (V and EVII and early EII):
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/post-your-post-boxes-photos-and-fun-facts.293070/post-7599436
Downpatrick, NI - another early EII.

Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

Similarly, there are post boxes to be found in Malta that still have a British monarch's details. On the boxes in Republic Street in Valletta they've been chiseled off, but in several other places no-one has been bothered about that and they remain as they were before the country became...

www.railforums.co.uk

Liverpool - two EII Type C side-by-side:

Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

A couple of recent finds, both EIIR. Type K, with festive topper. Wainfleet, Lincolnshire. (The building behind used to be the post office. It had a stamp machine set into the window). Newark, Nottinghamshire. Complete with 'out of use' stamp machine. (1) (2)

www.railforums.co.uk

Emsworth (Hampshire / West Sussex border): an EII amidst village undergrowth
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/post-your-post-boxes-photos-and-fun-facts.293070/post-7510905


Attached, a Type A pillar box that I've only found one of, in my "within one hour's drive" scope: a Type A phase 3 box; which I believe appeared on UK streets since 2019-ish. It has a wider and simpler style of posting aperture; it has aluminium plates bearing monarch's cypher and Royal Mail legend; it's arguably cheaper than chamging the door casting.
Has any of you seen one of these with EIIR, or CIIIR?

 

[WesternLancer]

Attached, a Type A pillar box that I've only found one of, in my "within one hour's drive" scope: a Type A phase 3 box; which I believe appeared on UK streets since 2019-ish. It has a wider and simpler style of posting aperture; it has aluminium plates bearing monarch's cypher and Royal Mail legend; it's arguably cheaper than chamging the door casting.
Has any of you seen one of these with EIIR, or CIIIR?

I’ve seen an EIIR one but can’t recall where.
I thought it looked cheap too.

 

[chipbury]

Ok, I may get barred from this thread for photo 1 in Bristol!

However I hope photos 2 & 3 of the VR boxes on Great Pultney Street in Bath make up for it!
Looking at the VR boxes they seem very cleanly casted, are they originals or copies?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Great shots @chipbury

Bath's wonderful two Penfold large-capacity pillar boxes are originals; I can't find the actual dates for their installation at Laura Place + Great Pulteney Street.
I stood beside both, a few years ago and before my interest started.

Bristol's "street pose" modern plastic repro: hilarious and the most innovative I've seen!

 

[chipbury]

At Iford Manor there is a box in the wall.

 

[weepingwillowb]

At Iford Manor there is a box in the wall.

Lovely location for a box. Thanks for sharing.

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Outside Burton-in-Kendal's shop/post office. Top topper in Westmorland?

 

[Sun Chariot]

What incredible wool-skills on that highly realistic display of birds, for that "topper".
I think that's the best one yet, full stop!
Many thanks for sharing, @weepingwillowb

 

[weepingwillowb]

In Garstang, Lancashire.

 

[Sun Chariot]

@weepingwillowb Splendid B! That's solved the question of how to get a knitted topper onto a Type K box which has no "cap lip"!

 

[DelW]

Those brilliant toppers reminded me that I took pictures of the (rather smaller) current one on my local box, featuring rescue dogs:

 

[WesternLancer]

Those brilliant toppers reminded me that I took pictures of the (rather smaller) current one on my local box, featuring rescue dogs:
View attachment 206176View attachment 206177

Love that! Don't think I've seen one on a small box before (not in real life anyway - cue a link to a pic up thread I've forgotten about...

 

[Sun Chariot]

Love that! Don't think I've seen one on a small box before (not in real life anyway - cue a link to a pic up thread I've forgotten about...

I think the same box (judging by its background) was graced with an Easter topper. Here's the photo by @DelW just before the topper's owner removed it.

Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

The building's no longer there, but the box still is...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[DelW]

I think the same box (judging by its background) was graced with an Easter topper. Here's the photo by @DelW just before the topper's owner removed it.

Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

The building's no longer there, but the box still is...

www.railforums.co.uk

Yes, they're done by a local lady who does several each year, only on that particular box. She said to me that she also does them to display in the foyer at a local medical treatment centre. I've never seen any others in the area.

The forum's search facility has reminded me that earlier versions appeared in posts 133 and 166

 

[Sun Chariot]

The forum's search facility has reminded me that earlier versions appeared in posts 133 and 166

Ah, yes!

 

[weepingwillowb]

Two King George VI boxes in Cumbria; a pillar box in Keswick, Cumbria, and the wall box is in Wescoe, a tiny hamlet about 2½ miles east of Keswick.

 

[weepingwillowb]

A King Edward VII pillar box outside Barrow-in-Furness Town Hall.

 

[Sun Chariot]

A wonderfully-worn box @weepingwillowb - it's definitely in need of a clean and another coat of paint!
That Type A pillar box dates 1901-1904, for the period when Edward VII boxes bore the Imperial State Crown and had the smaller door (akin to Victoria era Type A boxes). In 1905, EVII boxes bore the Tudor Crown and were cast with a larger door. Post 3 of this thread, shows an exanple of each.

Your post 379, linked, at the start of May, is a Type B Edward VII dated 1901-1904 (it has identifying features I mentioned) - I have not seen one of that style in person. Great find!

Post your Post Boxes! (Photos and fun facts)

The early boxes show different thinking in "practical" ways to protect precious post from the elements and from thieves: - vertical posting-aperture on the fluted styles (Warwick's box is on post 137), - hinged flap over the aperture, on the First National Standard design (on posts 275 and 299...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[chipbury]

A nice topper seen in Warminster today.

 

[Henffordd]

And a big one in Ledbury, seen yesterday. Are there many examples on twin-slot boxes? And where's the bottle of rum?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Top toppers @chipbury and @Henffordd

Attached is courtesy of the ever-sleuthing @weepingwillowb
The article appeared in The Pall Mall Gazette, 2nd May 1891.

 

[Rutland23]

Came across this one on the Isle of Bute at Port Bannatyne.



Sufficiently different to the norm to warrant a photo.

Now you will tell me that there are loads of them, and I wasted an electron or two.

Regards

Ian

 

[Sun Chariot]

Ah, a wonderful "Ludlow" wood-carcass wall box with a white enamel frontage. Great find, @Rutland23 !
James Ludlow gave his name to this specific design of wall-mounted box. It's my favourite design of all boxes.
Posts 39 and 44 of this thread, explain more.

There are still a small number in use, it's great to find one.

 

[WesternLancer]

Came across this one on the Isle of Bute at Port Bannatyne.

View attachment 206858

Sufficiently different to the norm to warrant a photo.

Now you will tell me that there are loads of them, and I wasted an electron or two.

Regards

Ian

That’s v interesting to see

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A selection from a recent Scotland visit to enjoy comfortable HST travel.

Nice prominent location on platform at Stirling. Shame the news kiosk seems no longer operational.

Then a full 20th century multi mode communication hub at Cumbernauld station…sadly in need of tlc.

Then a couple of different boxes near Waverley station, one conveniently located near tram stop, the other a bit further into the New Town.

Would these Scottish boxes feature a different crown to those in England?

 

[Forty29]

Two of the photos have phone boxes wonder if in working order still. The one next to the postbox and wheelie bin all seem a bit neglected.

 

[WesternLancer]

Two of the photos have phone boxes wonder if in working order still. The one next to the postbox and wheelie bin all seem a bit neglected.

Yes. It was fully functioning, as was the call box there at Cumbernauld station.
It was under cover so no rain to wash it but the post box was the least neglected there.

All the other post boxes in action. I put post in the one near the tram and the one on Stirling platform.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Great selection of history with those pillar boxes @WesternLancer A Victoria Type A and an Edward VII Type B dated 1901-1904 (Imperial State Crown).

 

[WesternLancer]

Two of the photos have phone boxes wonder if in working order still. The one next to the postbox and wheelie bin all seem a bit neglected.

Actually I forgot about the non BT box in the image by the tram. Of a sort that sprouted in various cities some years ago and are mostly out of order yet local councils seem unable to get them removed. So that one probably doesn’t work.

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Great selection of history with those pillar boxes @WesternLancer A Victoria Type A and an Edward VII Type B dated 1901-1904 (Imperial State Crown).

Thanks!

 

[weepingwillowb]

I was out walking east of Carlisle yesterday, and found two wall boxes while passing through the hamlets of Broadwath and Burnrigg. Although they're only ⅘ of a mile apart Broadwath has an Edward VII box, and Burnrigg a George VI.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Wonderfully characteriul George VI lamp box embedded into the wall * great find @weepingwillowb

 

[WesternLancer]

I was out walking east of Carlisle yesterday, and found two wall boxes while passing through the hamlets of Broadwath and Burnrigg. Although they're only ⅘ of a mile apart Broadwath has an Edward VII box, and Burnrigg a George VI.

These are very interesting to see. Thanks. Nice and interesting stone walls / buildings they are placed in to.