In order to
standardise pillar boxes throughout Britain and Ireland the Post Office decided
in 1857 that a cheaper version of the London ornate box, bereft of all the
earlier ornamentation, should be made for use in all regions.
The only survivor is still in use at the Kent Railway Station in Cork,
Irish Republic. A plate giving
collection times was added; on earlier boxes this was displayed separately.
Another design which took account of some criticism was put out to tender and in 1859 Cochrane and Company began making what are called the ‘first national standard’ pillar boxes. The design was similar to the cheaper version of the London ornate box, except that the new box was taller, the posting aperture was below the cap and had an inward-opening flap which could not be left open. A wire guard inside stopped letters falling out when the door was opened and the door was hinged at the left instead of the right. The box was supplied in two sizes: there are four surviving examples of the large ‘A’ size, one of which is in Montpelier.
Left: Fifty ornate pillar boxes, decorated with masks and festoons of flowers, were made for use in London in 1857. One is in the Salford Museum; the Post Office has two more.
Right:
A cheaper version of the ornate box without the decorative mouldings was also
made in 1857.
The only remaining example is at the Kent railway station, Cork, in the
Republic of Ireland.
