EHL171. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'C' Wall Box c1882-1885. Old Town High Street where it meets The Goffs, opposite Moatcroft Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: firmly.join.wider

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher manufactured by W. T. Allen & Co London (the makers name is covered in multiple layers of paint, but is just discernible).

Letter Box Study Group: Type C with a high cypher is designated WB87/i.

The building is currently a Pizza Stop outlet, but the 1899 Kelly’s Sussex Directory shows it was an off-licence at that time.  Under ‘Ale & Porter Merchants & Agents’ it states ‘Hurst A. & Co.  1 High Street, Old Town, Eastbourne.’  Today, above the main entrance in ghost writing, can still be seen the original signage ‘Hurst & Co.’   Some previous articles state that this is, or probably is, the oldest surviving letter box in Eastbourne.  After measuring the box (28” high x 10.5” wide, with a 6” x 1” aperture) and referring to The Letter Box Study Group information sheet, its time span of manufacture can be accurately dated to 1882-1885, which is slightly later than the Anonymous high aperture pillar boxes, but it may have been installed before them as the dates overlap slightly and the locations of the Anonymous boxes in Jevington Gardens and King Edward's Parade were undeveloped according to the Ordnance Survey map published in 1879 (surveyed 1875-1876).  The map can be found on the National Library of Scotland website as ‘Sussex Sheet LXXX.’

EHL161. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Upper Carlisle Road at the junction with Carlisle Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: winks.bought.cute

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Good, apart from centre of key cover rusted away.  Also seems to have been buried rather deep into the ground for some obscure reason.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

 

EHL160. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Summerdown Road (No17) near junction with Church Street/Victoria Drive, Eastbourne. what3words location: tulip.claps.usage

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Good.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

 

EHL149. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1887-1892. South Street at junction with Cornfield Lane, near the War Memorial, Eastbourne. what3words location: third.bigger.boxing

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B without weather strip & with 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/i. 

Condition: Generally good, but base corroded under paintwork making it difficult to read manufacturers name. 

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

 

EHL150. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'A' c1892-1900. South Cliff at junction with South Cliff Avenue, Eastbourne. what3words location: lasts.bliss.decreased

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher.

Letter Box Study Group: Type A with weather strip manufactured by Handyside is designated PB14/ii.

Condition: Very good, although door key cover rusted away.  Considering its position on the seafront in the salt laden air, the general condition is remarkable.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL77. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1887-1892. Corner of Seaside and St. Aubyns Road near Marine Hall, Eastbourne. what3words location: flicked.dices.cries

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B without weather strip & with 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/i. 

The photograph on the right (courtesy of Kevin Gordon) shows the same box on the corner of Seaside and Langney Road before it was moved to the current Seaside/St. Aubyn's Road location sometime in the 1990’s (or possibly late 80’s).  I believe a major redevelopment of the Seaside/Langney Road junction was planned with the possible introduction of a roundabout which would have meant widening Langney Road by removing the gardens, which itself would have necessitated the removal of the letter box (and old drinking fountain), but in the end the roundabout failed to materialise, possibly due to cost, and the only change was to introduce a pedestrian island to the existing zebra crossing, but by this time the letter box and fountain had already been moved to their new locations. 

Interestingly, a map of 1876 shows there was a pillar box in this location which would have been either a First National Standard, or a Penfold.  At that time Langney Road was called Marine Drove.

A point to note about the relocated box is the fact that the base cutouts, which are usually buried under the ground, can actually be seen; so for some reason it was not buried as deep as it should have been.

In 1979, Richard and Alexandra (Za) Crook (nee Marshall), and Michael Ockenden painted the cyphers on the letter boxes as can be seen in the right-hand photograph.  Richard informed me that they painted all the cyphers black, and the crown on the Victorian wall box in the Goffs was highlighted in gold.  Obviously, the boxes have been repainted many times since, and when I recently contacted the Post Office to ask if the cyphers could be highlighted as they were in 1979, they informed me it was against their policy.

EHL159. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Redoubt Road (No38) at the junction with Rylstone Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: helpless.fruitcake.faced

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii.  

Condition: Fair, door lock cover rusted away.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

  

EHL135. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Mill Gap Road near the junction with St. Anne's Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: hours.clues.voted

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher.  The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Generally good, but base corroded under paintwork making it difficult to read manufacturers name.

Interestingly the box was positioned where it cut into the granite kerbstones.  Presumably this was because the pavement is quite narrow.  Not something that would get past a Health & Safety Risk Assessment today!

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL158. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Malcolm Court, 27 Lewes Road near the junction with Enys Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: line.neck.backed

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Fair, base corroded under paintwork.  

I'm not sure what this particular knitted artwork represents, but this UK wide craze seemed to start during the Covid pandemic.  This 'postbox topper,' as they were called, has disappeared since I took this photograph in 2023.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

 

EHL164. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. King Edward's Parade at the exit from Chatsworth Gardens near the junction with Bolsover Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: milky.cook.aware

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL157. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1900. Green Street at the junction with Salehurst Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: uses.apple.donor

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 8” x 2” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/iii. 

41-41A Green Street at the junction with Salehurst Road.  

Condition: Base appears to be heavily corroded under paintwork, and the underside of the cap has rusted through in places, but any further corrosion is unlikely as the boxes are repainted on a regular basis.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL167. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1887-1892. Granville Road at the junction with Silverdale Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: hammer.decide.nurse

 

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B without weather strip & with 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/i. 

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL174. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'A' c1887-1892. Sovereign House, 25-28 Grand Parade (Corner of Grand Parade and Trinity Place), Eastbourne. what3words location: thank.afford.either

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type A without weather strip is designated PB14/i.

Condition: Very good, especially considering it is right next to the seafront with its salt laden air. 

Eastbourne’s Historic Street Furniture (1984) gave the location as ‘Grand Parade, near Victoria Hotel.’  The Victoria Court Hotel is now Sovereign House. 

See Grenville Godfrey’s flickr account for pictures of the hotel through the decades.  Two illustrations, from approximately 1890-1900 (hotel was then named Sydney House), and the other from c1920 (then named the Embassy Hotel) show the Pillar Box on the corner.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL76. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1900. Outside Mace store (106 Firle Road) at junction of Firle Road and Cavendish Avenue, Eastbourne. what3words location: waddled.digit.tour

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Manufactured by A. Handyside & Co Ltd, Derby & London.

Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 8” x 2” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/iii.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL70. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. De Roos Road where it meets Ratton Road and Mill Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: across.flags.legal

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii.

Condition: Slightly out of perpendicular.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL163. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Compton Street (9-11) near the junction with Devonshire Place, Eastbourne. what3words location: shall.sizes.highs

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Fair, base appears corroded under paintwork.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL173. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1892-1900. Chesterfield Road at the junction with Darley Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: cubs.laws.mixed

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher.

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B with weather strip & 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/ii. 

Condition: Generally good, although lock cover badly corroded.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL221. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'A' c1892-1900. Carlisle Road near the junction with Compton Street, and opposite the Heritage Centre, Eastbourne. what3words location: audit.factories.speech

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher.

Letter Box Study Group: Type A with weather strip manufactured by Handyside is designated PB14/ii.

The 1899 map shows this box was originally on the corner with Compton Street and was moved approx. 100 feet to its present location. 

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.

EHL162. VR (Queen Victoria) Type 'B' c1887-1892. Carlisle Road at the junction with Gaudick Road, Eastbourne. what3words location: task.donor.frost

Cast iron letter box with VR cypher. 

The Letter Box Study Group: Type B without weather strip & with 7” aperture manufactured by Handyside is designated PB15/i. 

Condition: Very Good.

Historic England: -

The roadside post box was introduced in Britain following the 1840 postal reform which provided for universal affordable postage. New adhesive stamps made pre-payment of postage easy. However, letters usually had to be taken to the nearest letter receiving office which could be miles away. This, together with the growth in demand for postal services linked to industrialisation and urbanisation, led to the need for many more convenient places where stamped letters could be deposited. The novelist Anthony Trollope, a General Post Office (GPO) official sent to Jersey to make recommendations, provided a solution. He adopted a system used on the Continent of placing locked cast-iron pillar boxes at the roadside and the provision of regular collection times. His scheme began in the Channel Islands in 1852 and was extended to the mainland in 1853.