Detail of 'V.R.' marked postbox in front of shop at Bull's Close, 106 Canongate, Edinburgh.

Description Detail of 'V.R.' marked postbox in front of shop at Bull's Close, 106 Canongate, Edinburgh.

Date 18/9/2013

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number DP 161399

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content This letterbox is situated at the west end of 106 Canongate. Although it is marked 'V.R.' dating it to the reign of Queen Victoria, this is in fact an example of many replicas of this design erected across the UK in 1989. The letterbox is hexagonal, with an ogee-shaped cap surmounted by an acanthus bud finial and acanthus leave design leading down from the finial. The cap is edged with ball mouldings, and below the letter slot is the Crown of Scotland, flanked by the words 'POST' (left) and 'OFFICE' (right). The first pillar boxes were installed on mainland Britain in 1853, after being trialled on the Channel Islands. This is an example of a replica Penfold pillar box. The original Penfold pillar box was named after its designer, architect John Worsnham Penfold (1828-1909), and first erected in 1866. This style of letterbox continued to be produced by manufacturers Cochrane Grove & Co, Dudley, until the more familiar cylindrical design was created in 1879. In 1859, a standard bronze-green colour was designated for letterboxes, but was considered too inconspicuous, and so began to be painted the now familiar pillar box red in 1874 to help them stand out from their surroundings. The Crown of Scotland emblem was introduced onto Scottish letterboxes when several boxes with the 'E II R' emblem were blown up by objectors claiming that Queen Elizabeth II was the first Queen Elizabeth in Scotland. This Crown of Scotland emblem was installed on all letterboxes and telephone kiosks in Scotland.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1350423

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap