Now I like these two pictures of that post-box on the
corner of Edge Lane and Hampton Road.
They were taken by Robert Williamson a few years ago, who asked if it was the
oldest pillar box in Chorlton and I rather think it is.
My old friend David Harrop thinks so suggesting that it dates
from the 1870s and he should know given that he has a large collection of
memorabilia from both world wars and more particularly from the history of the
Post Office.
Nor is that quite all, because David has a special
connection with this pillar box.
Back in the 1990s he was working in the Facilities Branch of
the Post Office which was responsible for the siting and maintenance of post
boxes in Greater Manchester.
By then our Victorian box had become redundant replaced by a
new one attached to a lamp post nearby.
And to add insult to injury it had lost
its door.
On discovering the sad plight of Queen Victoria’s best he
instigated a search and the door was found in a garden restored to its rightful
place which in turn led to the reinstatement of the said oldest pillar box in
Chorlton.
He tells me that people are very sensitive about the
position of their local pillar boxes and when the branch moved the one from
outside Salford Fire Station it caused quite a storm despite only being moved
30 or so yards.
All of which leaves me to say that ours was made by Smith
and Hawkes of Birmingham and given David’s interest in all things posty you won’t
be surprised to know that in his collection he has a door from a Victorian
pillar box.
Now that door isn’t on display in his permanent exhibition in
the Remembrance Lodge at Southern Cemetery but there are lots of interesting
things to see from post cards and medals from the Great War to a pillar box salvaged
after the Coventry Blitz.
David was insistent I should go down to Edge Lane and take a
picture but Robert has kindly let me use his.
So a winner all round, and for those wanting a bit more
local history our box will have arrived on Edge Lane sometime in the 1870s reflecting
that suburban creep which had seen fine new villas constructed by the well to do
spreading up from the station at Stretford.
But that is another story.
Bit in the meantime I received a correction to the story, Ian has pointed out that, "technically the box at Edge Lane is not a pillar box, but a wall box, designed to be inserted in a wall.
Pillar boxes are the tall round ones or the 6-sided Victorian ones known as "Penfolds" [after their designer].
Readers may be interested in the work of the Letter Box Study Group, the worlds leading experts on post boxes. Their website is at: www.LBSG.org".
Thank you Ian
Bit in the meantime I received a correction to the story, Ian has pointed out that, "technically the box at Edge Lane is not a pillar box, but a wall box, designed to be inserted in a wall.
Pillar boxes are the tall round ones or the 6-sided Victorian ones known as "Penfolds" [after their designer].
Readers may be interested in the work of the Letter Box Study Group, the worlds leading experts on post boxes. Their website is at: www.LBSG.org".
Thank you Ian
Pictures the Edge Lane pillar box, 2014 from the collection
of Robert Williamson
Technically the box at Edge Lane is not a pillar box, but a wall box, designed to be inserted in a wall. Pillar boxes are the tall round ones or the 6-sided Victorian ones known as "Penfolds" [after their deigner]. Readers may be interested in the work of the Letter Box Study Group, the worlds leadign experts on post boxes. Their website is at: www.LBSG.org
ReplyDeleteThank you Ian
ReplyDelete