Royal Post Box

This Royal Post Box is set in the wall of an out-building on the site of the Parish House which dates from the late 19th century.

The Post Box displays the  royal cipher “VR” (Victoria Regina). It was supplied by W.T. Allen and Company, London, and is a fine example of mass-produced cast-iron work produced by this company.

Mail was deposited in these wall boxes and pillar boxes to be collected by the Royal Mail. The boxes have been in use since 1852, just twelve years after the introduction of the first adhesive postage stamps (Penny Black) and uniform penny post.

Not all Royal Post Boxes survived the Irish War of Independence (1919 – 1921). The presence a very recognisable symbol of the British Empire presented a challenge in 1922 to the new government of the Irish Free State. Instead of replacing all the red British post boxes, it ordered that the post boxes be painted green. A perfect Irish solution to an Irish problem. The boxes still, of course, featured the royal cipher symbols– either ER (Edward Rex), GR (George Rex) or in this instance the more common “VR” (Victoria Regina), complete with a large crown.

Check out further details of this historic feature (Reg No: 15701129) on the ‘National Inventory of Architectural Heritage’ website.