Not really 'bygone' in age terms, but a special letter pillar box nonetheless.
Historic
Context: In 1980,
the Post Office unveiled a new ‘cigar-shaped’ pillar letter box chosen from a
panel of three competing designers. The
winning design was created by Tony Gibbs, a Fellow of the Society of Industrial
Artists and Designers. His winning entry
had a much smoother look and a slightly recessed aperture within its door, and
did not have a separate domed top. Made
in traditional cast iron by the Lion Foundry of Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, it had
a substantial
capacity but a relatively small footprint. It was designated Type K by the Post
Office. At its launch the Post Office
stated ‘In redesigning the pillar box, the opportunity has been taken to create
a product more in keeping with the times in which we live, and takes advantage
of modern (manufacturing) techniques.’
Unfortunately, the new design was not universally popular or thought to
be acceptable in conservation areas, and in 1990 the traditional style was
re-introduced as an alternative. The
Type K ceased production in 2000.
This particular box was one of the first eleven erected in the UK on July 31st 1980 and has a commemorative plaque cast on the back which reads ‘One of the first castings of the 1980 ‘K’ pillar box.’ Only 15 of these special commemorative boxes were ever made, and all subsequent boxes of this type had a plain cast back. To mark the launch day of the new design the Post Office issued a commemorative cover and a special hand stamp of the towns in which the boxes were erected. Unfortunately, the only image I can find of the commemorative cover has the hand stamp of Shrewsbury rather than Eastbourne.
It is also worth noting that there has been a pillar letter box in this location since before 1899, albeit on the opposite corner of Colonnade Road.
For added historical significance this box still has the Covid era ‘ROYAL MAIL, PRIORITY POSTBOX, SUPPORTING THE NHS’ sticker!
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