Continuing on my search for different post boxes............
This one is from Diss in Norfolk outside a Post Office that is still a Post Office - a rare thing nowadays when they are more often shoved in the back of a shop.
Dual Aperture pillar boxes were first introduced in1899 to separate 'town' and 'country letters in London. This one below is much more modern but would have originally had a label to say 'Local' above one slot and 'Other Areas' above the other.
I assume that mechanization in sorting and automatic recognition of post-codes means that there is no longer a need for post to be pre-sorted.
Also in Diss.............. this is a very modern plastic or fibreglass post box. These are made for standing out of the weather often in Supermarkets, shopping centres, airports or hospitals. This is in the entrance way at Morrisons.
Many thanks for all the comments yesterday - all interesting.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
There's a double one outside W H Smith in Carmarthen (coincidentally where the PO ended up when they shut the big one in King Street - which is still empty and unused.)
ReplyDeleteI used to wonder what terrible thing would happen if you put your letter in the wrong slot!
ReplyDeletexx
I remember when the slots were labelled. The post box in the wall here in my nearest town still has a "local" slot and an "other destinations" slot.
ReplyDeleteI know it's stupid - but I feel more secure putting my letter in an old metal box rather than a new plastic one. I'm glad Royal Mail relocate the old iron boxes when they need to move them because of road development schemes.
ReplyDeleteThere is something reassuring and comforting about post boxes and telephone boxes. They are like old reliable friends. I love them all.
ReplyDeleteI used to think that double slot post boxes were so that people didn't have to queue to post their letters. But we did have one in the PO wall that said 1st class and 2nd class. I suspect everyone just put everything in 1st class.
ReplyDeleteWe have a nice Victorian one by the cathedral here in Sheffield.
ReplyDeleteHere in France postboxes are a special kind of yellow ("jaune Poste") and generally have two slots : one for "département" and the other for "autres départements" or "toute France", I think. Very few metal ones, if any.
ReplyDeleteMaguy
I prefer the iron boxes. For me, they have more character. The key holes for emptying the box show nicely as well.
ReplyDeleteOur main post box in the town has two slots but I guess they all go into the same box.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy these posts Sue. I love seeing these boxes and I like the red color. Most of ours are blue. The red shows up better. Thanks for showing more of these lovely boxes!
ReplyDeleteWe still have double boxes here in Canada. I guess it make sorting easier for our postal workers. However ours are not as lovely as the ones you have.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.