Vintage Royal Mail Post Box



Villagers are rejoicing after their cherished vintage postbox was re-instated after its future was thrown in to doubt when a truck hit it.

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Residents of Bearsted, near Maidstone, were outraged at the suggestion their red Royal Mail receptacle may be 'too expensive' to fix after the collision on March 22.

Workers at the scene had told them the £4,000 repair cost might be too much for the firm to shell out.

But people living near the cast-iron pillar box on the corner of Manor Rise and Yeoman Lane said the cost didn't matter and one described the incident as like 'the loss of a much-loved friend.'

They feared it would be replaced by an 'ugly box on a stick'.

Postcode

The original postbox had been made by the Lion Foundry Co Ltd of Kirkintilloch - on the Clyde.

The firm had the contract both for the GPO's (General Post Office) pillar boxes and the classic red telephone booths.

It was the termination of the telephone box orders that drove the company out of business about 37 years ago. Previously they had been supplying customers all over the world for over a century.

Antique royal mail post box

David Cockerham said at the time: 'Our box made by them was a precious piece of industrial history.'

But now it's back and residents admit it's looking better than ever.

Finder

Mr Cockerham said: 'It's so nice to have its splendid features back to welcome us home.

'I'm slightly flattered that the Royal Mail actually matched the brickwork topping of the gateposts I built, rather than putting the postbox's old concrete hat back on top of it!

'Rather handy actually, since it was the overhanging concrete that the truck hit.'

Royal Mail completed work on Monday.

The campaign to see the old box returned involved Cllr Valerie Springett and Bearsted Parish Council.

My Cockerham said:'It's a great victory. I would like to thank all those involved.'

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Brief history

Anthony Trollope, the novelist, introduced the pillar box to Britain in 1852 when he worked as a Post Office Surveyor in the Channel Islands. The first mainland box was erected a year later in 1853. At first local District Surveyors ordered boxes from local foundries. In 1859 a standard design was introduced. Wall boxes appeared in 1857, Ludlow boxes in 1885 and lamp boxes in 1896.

Each new reign brings boxes bearing the royal cipher of the monarch. Pillar boxes and wall boxes have been made in different sizes and with improvements to the design incorporated over time. A large number of different manufacturers have been employed and over the years there have been many experimental boxes put in service.

Antique Royal Mail Post Box

The Group

Founded in 1976, the LBSG has identified around 800 different types of postbox. There are more than 400 different varieties of pillar box; around 160 types of wall box, 66 Ludlow boxes and almost 80 versions of the lamp box. New boxes are still appearing while there are still many older boxes waiting to be discovered and rediscovered.
The Letter Box Study Group is the acknowledged authority on the history and development of the British roadside letter box.

Membership

We are an active group of individuals devoted to the study of postboxes. From modest beginnings four decades ago the Letter Box Study Group has grown to become the recognised authority on the subject – all through the voluntary efforts of its members.

BOXING CLEVER

New school term? Need new ideas for learning-related outdoor activities in primary schools? In literacy, numeracy, art, design, geography and history? Try the Letter Box Study Group Education Pack on for size. It consists of worksheets and activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), KS1 and KS2. There are also notes for extension activities.

Vintage Royal Mail Post Box Collection Times

The sheets can be used individually or as a whole. They can be deployed for simple colouring, observation exercises, reading and writing, numbers and basic reasoning. For older age groups, the Pack may be used to introduce discussion of design, engineering, manufacture and elementary business studies. Teaching children about history is an integral part of understanding the world today. The Pack is, for example, well suited to teaching about Victorian times.

Royal Mail Postcode Finder

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Vintage Royal Mail Post Box For Sale

The Letter Box Study Group Education Pack will help children – and adults – look little more closely at post boxes, their place in our community landscape, and the importance of staying in touch with friends, family and neighbours all over the world.