I always think that Britain's red post (pillar) boxes are an under-appreciated asset. They're a good thing as you generally don't have to go too far to find one to post your letter in, and a good thing in that they are quite stylish and distinctive. Most of them have a royal cipher that tells you during which monarch's reign they were installed. This one on the corner of Bingley Road and Bromley Road, Shipley, has the cipher of King Edward VII, who reigned for only nine years from 1901 until his death in 1910. Known as 'Bertie', he was the eldest son of Queen Victoria. Pillar boxes with his cipher are relatively rare, though not as rare as those for Edward VIII who, famously, abdicated during his first year as king in 1936.
When out and about in England, I always look at the post boxes. There are few with "VR" in Ripon, some Edwardians, but of course most of them are "ERII". Do you know whether there are any with "CRII" installed yet?
ReplyDeleteYes, there's one near me in the village of Cambourne, near Cambridge. I promise to photograph it next time I'm out that way.
DeleteI'd like to see that, John. Thank you!
DeleteThat look quite regal. No one will mess with the mail in one of those.
ReplyDelete