What is a Penfold post box?
Penfold pillar boxes were hexagonal with a cast iron top decorated with acanthus leaves and bud, and decorative balls. This box in Bayshill Road still has its original enamelled flap over the letter aperture. The much-loved pillar boxes were designed by architect J. W. Penfold.
Why did post boxes change from green to red?
Firstly their colour: many of the UK’s earliest boxes were painted green to blend in with the landscape, but were repainted the famous ‘pillar box red’ by 1884 to increase visibility.
How many Victorian post boxes are there?
Royal Mail post boxes are a cherished feature of the British street furniture scene. As well as being in daily operational use for an essential public service, they are national treasures. Currently there are over 85,000 in England and 115,500 across the UK as a whole.
How many Edward 8 post boxes are there?
There were, according to Bexley Council Strategic Planning and Regeneration Department, 271 letter boxes made during the short reign of Edward VIII. Of these, “161 were pillar boxes, 6 were wall boxes and the remaining 104 were Ludlow boxes for use at sub-post offices.
Did the Victorians invent the post box?
In 1856, Richard Redgrave of the Department of Science and Art designed an ornate pillar box for use in London and other large cities. In 1859 the design was improved, and this became the first National Standard pillar box. Green was adopted as the standard colour for the early Victorian post boxes.
Why is the post box red in Colour?
In early Victorian era the color of post box was Green in Britain. Then during the mid 19th century it was changed to Red. So with the Britishers the color of post box also came to its colonies like India, Australia, etc.
What Colour were UK post boxes originally?
Red
Beginnings in Red The first British pillar boxes were opened for public use on Jersey on 23 November 1852. Shortly after, the Jersey Times, reporting on these new boxes to its readers, informed them that the boxes were “painted red”.
How big is a post box slot UK?
The slot in a pillar box is about 25cm x 7.5cm. The slot in a pillar box is about 25cm x 7.5cm.
What was the colour of the Victorian post box?
In 1856 Richard Redgrave of the Department of Science and Art designed an ornate pillar box for use in London and other large cities. In 1859 the design was improved, and this became the first National Standard pillar box. Green was adopted as the standard colour for the early Victorian post boxes.
What was the first post box in London?
In 1866 a hexagonal shaped Post Box designed by an architect & surveyor by the name of John Penfold – was the very first standardised public post box to be erected in London – this became commonly known as the ‘Penfold Box’ – was it green in colour, and displayed the Royal cipher of Queen Victoria – “VR” which stands for “Victoria Regina”.
Are there any Victorian post boxes in Wexford?
County Wexford has a number of Victorian post boxes still extant. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) lists ten so far with the ‘VR’ royal cipher: five in Wexford town, four in New Ross and one in Gorey.
Who was the designer of the post box?
Although commonly referred to as the ‘Penfold Hexagonal’ post box, it was designed by the English architect and surveyor John Wornham Penfold (1828–1909) to be marketed as the ‘New Standard Letter Box’ and may have been influenced by the octagonal post boxes commissioned by Hill in early 1852.