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Month: April 2013

LBSG says new Ofcom proposals on British letter boxes ‘should go further’

The Letter Box Study Group submitted a detailed response to the Ofcom consultation on UK post box provision on April 30, 2013…read more… Read More

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Advent Calendar Dec 20 - Newport, Gwent This Edwa

Advent Calendar Dec 20 - Newport, Gwent

This Edward VII pillar box dates to the second half of Edward's reign, one of the first produced by McDowall Steven & Co. McDowall Steven made several changes to Handyside's design, integrating the slot into the door and adding the next collection tablet and wording.

You may note the collection plate is a little off-centre on this box, which is because the original plate has been replaced. Even this one has suffered some damage!

#adventcalendar #adventcalendar2024 #streetfurniture #streetfurnituredesign #history #designhistory #castiron #newportgwent #newport #postbox #mailbox #letterbox #letterboxstudygroup

Advent Calendar Dec 19 - Lancaster This size A (l

Advent Calendar Dec 19 - Lancaster

This size A (large) VR wall box is a good example of its 1881-1905 design. These older boxes have smaller doors, miss the words 'NEXT COLLECTION' and tablet with the next collection time/day, and have the royal initials above the aperture instead of the whole cipher on the door. For a good comparison, take a look at our earlier advent calendar post in Wells.

#adventcalendar #adventcalendar2024 #lancaster #streetfurniture #streetfurnituredesign #postbox #mailbox #letterbox #letterboxstudygroup #history #lancaster

Advent Calendar Dec 18 - Londonderry/Derry This E

Advent Calendar Dec 18 - Londonderry/Derry

This Edward VII pillar box is one of the later Handyside boxes, with McDowall Steven taking over manufacture and changing the design in 1905. It also features a special stamps plaque, showing a March 2015 stamp with the Northern Irish city's Peace Bridge. The bridge, opened in June 2011 across the River Foyle and connecting Irish nationalist and British unionist communities in the cities, was hoped to be used to improve connections and reduce divisions between the communities, as part of regeneration taking place across the city.

#adventcalendar #northernireland #derry #londonderry #adventcalendar2024 #postbox #mailbox #letterbox #history #streetfurniture #letterboxstudygroup

Advent Calendar Dec 17 - Ripon This lovely Queen

Advent Calendar Dec 17 - Ripon

This lovely Queen Victoria pillar box is, like yesterday's box, a Handyside. But unlike yesterday's box it features the normal VR cipher and the words 'POST' and 'OFFICE' around the aperture. It took eight years of anonymous postbox production before anyone called Handyside out on the missing features, but from 1887 onwards all pillar boxes have carried the royal cipher of whichever monarch was in charge.

#postbox #pillarbox #letterbox #mailbox #ripon #history #handyside #streetfurniture #streetfurnituredesign #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2024 #letterboxstudygroup

Advent Calendar Dec 16 - Derby Derby was once hom

Advent Calendar Dec 16 - Derby

Derby was once home to the cast iron manufacturers Andrew Handyside & Co, who were important contributors to the history of the postbox. Their pillar boxes appeared from 1879-1905, and initially omitted the royal cipher as in the box pictured. We call those without a cipher 'anonymous'. Handyside boxes introduced the now-traditional cap with fluting around the edge, which is even now present on the latest steel pillar boxes. Distinctive Handyside features include the two raised rings around the top of the cylinder, and the 'short door' that stops at the bottom ring. This anonymous box, now out of use, is the last Handyside box left in the Derby area.

#postbox #mailbox #letterbox #letterboxstudygroup #derby #history #streetfurniture #streetfurnituredesign #adventcalendar #adventcalendar2024

Advent Calendar Dec 15 - Plymouth Apologies for t

Advent Calendar Dec 15 - Plymouth

Apologies for the lateness!

George V's cipher is one of the most common on British postboxes despite many of his boxes being over 100 years old. His reign saw massive urban growth, and many surburbs will be filled with George V pillar boxes just like this one in Plymouth. This box also features one of the 50 plaques installed to celebrate special stamps - this one commemorating the Eddystone Lighthouse.

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