Britain's iconic red letter boxes - 'the red heart of the British streetscape' (BBC News Magazine)
One of the UK's rarest postboxes celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. But what is the future for this red emblem of the British streetscape? Will the red postbox sadly follow the same fate as the red phone box? And now that the privatisation of the Royal Mail has taken place, are other colours set to replace the familiar red?
The first pillar boxes were erected at St Helier in Jersey in 1852, at the recommendation of novelist Anthony Trollope - who was an employee of the General Post Office at the time. The first boxes were erected in Britain a year later.
Designs varied but in 1859 an improved cylindrical design was adopted for standard use nationwide. A Liverpool postmaster decided to rebel, and after a waging a long battle with London, the Liverpool Special letter box - with its increased capacity and chunkily cast crown on top - was born.
Andrew Young, chairman of the Letter Box Study Group, views that in a deregulated system, there could be a decline in numbers of the traditional form of the red boxes.
"There is a question over who would become responsible for the heritage," says Young. "It would take a campaign to determine who had liability."
This would be a great shame as the Traditional letter box has many fans. For many communities, they are a reassuring presence - a cheerful, red splash that has stood out on British streets for a more than a century and a half.
Jonathan Glancey, writer and author of Pillar Boxes, sees them as miniature works of architecture, as a "glorious piece of public design", both functional and aesthetic, that has stood the test of time.
"Postboxes - like the old telephone boxes - are symbolic of democratic order and high standards. Whether you lived in Toxteth or Mayfair, there was the same standards for public design."
Lets hope the red boxes will remain. But what are your views? What colour would you be happy to see replace the traditional and vibrant red?
The full article can be read here.
If you have enjoyed reading about the red letter box, why not stay on red theme and read our article about The Big Red British Telephone Box
One of the UK's rarest postboxes celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. But what is the future for this red emblem of the British streetscape? Will the red postbox sadly follow the same fate as the red phone box? And now that the privatisation of the Royal Mail has taken place, are other colours set to replace the familiar red?
The first pillar boxes were erected at St Helier in Jersey in 1852, at the recommendation of novelist Anthony Trollope - who was an employee of the General Post Office at the time. The first boxes were erected in Britain a year later.
Designs varied but in 1859 an improved cylindrical design was adopted for standard use nationwide. A Liverpool postmaster decided to rebel, and after a waging a long battle with London, the Liverpool Special letter box - with its increased capacity and chunkily cast crown on top - was born.
Andrew Young, chairman of the Letter Box Study Group, views that in a deregulated system, there could be a decline in numbers of the traditional form of the red boxes.
"There is a question over who would become responsible for the heritage," says Young. "It would take a campaign to determine who had liability."
This would be a great shame as the Traditional letter box has many fans. For many communities, they are a reassuring presence - a cheerful, red splash that has stood out on British streets for a more than a century and a half.
Jonathan Glancey, writer and author of Pillar Boxes, sees them as miniature works of architecture, as a "glorious piece of public design", both functional and aesthetic, that has stood the test of time.
"Postboxes - like the old telephone boxes - are symbolic of democratic order and high standards. Whether you lived in Toxteth or Mayfair, there was the same standards for public design."
Lets hope the red boxes will remain. But what are your views? What colour would you be happy to see replace the traditional and vibrant red?
The full article can be read here.
If you have enjoyed reading about the red letter box, why not stay on red theme and read our article about The Big Red British Telephone Box
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