The Development of the Letterbox
In the pre-post box era, there were two main methods for delivering a letter; senders can be necessitated to take their mail to some Receiving House, or would await the Bellman. The latter would patrol the streets, collecting post from the community. In order to distinguish himself, also to make his presence known, the Bellman dons a uniform and ring a bell.
It was at 1852 the suggestion of road-side boxes finally became a reality, with a trial proposed to the Channel Islands. Three cast-iron pillar boxes were placed on Jersey to test out the newest system.
The success of the experiment generated one more four being installed on Guernsey, one ofthese now forms part of the British Postal Museum & Archive collection. Letter boxes then began appearing about the mainland by 1853.
However, there were up to now no universal pillar box design in which we're currently familiar. Design and manufacture was with the discretion of local authorities, also it what food was in 1859 that attempts were designed to standardise the structures.
Horizontal slits became the favoured option over vertical ones, and took over as norm in letterbox design. Further improvements upon the original included the addition with the protruding cap to shield the contents through the elements.
As of 1859, this area ended up being be accessible by 50 % sizes; a bigger and wider size for highly populated areas, plus a smaller version for elsewhere. However, the standardised pillar boxes did not receive universal acclaim. It more info was contrary to the backdrop of which criticism the Liverpool Special was formulated.
This prompted the Post Office (opened in 1861) to make another standard letter box in 1866. Again, this was not really a huge success therefore, a further design arrived 1879. This final design could be the one with which we're used to today. It was 2 years just before this how the iconic red colour in the post boxes became a standard feature.
Before this time, the most well-liked colour option was green as a way to blend in with the green British pastures. However, following a barrage of complaints the structures were to difficult to locate this can camouflage, it was agreed that bright red was your best option. The programme of re-painting lasted for decade.
For people at large, the introduction and refinement of letter boxes enhanced the capability for sending and receiving mail easily. With the exception of oversized parcel delivery, everyone was afforded access with a delivery service no time before witnessed in Great Britain.