Survey Data
Reg No
13400204
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Post box
In Use As
Post box
Date
1880 - 1900
Coordinates
220317, 292890
Date Recorded
09/08/2005
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, c. 1890, with 'VR' royal cipher and raised crown motif. Raised ‘Post Office’ lettering to letter flap. ‘W.T Allen and Company of London’ foundry mark to base. Still is use. Set into rendered pier adjacent to rendered wall. Located along road in the rural landscape to the north/northeast of Ballinamuck.
Appraisal
An attractive item of street furniture that represents an early surviving artefact of mass-produced cast-iron ware. The modest design of the box is enhanced by the royal cipher (identifying the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 - 1901) and the crown motif, which enliven the appearance of this otherwise functional object. Many pre-independence post boxes were simply painted green and retained their royal insignia but are now becoming an increasingly rare sight and are worthy of retention as historical artifacts. It was made by W.T. Allen and Company of London (1881 - 1955), who were responsible for many of the late-Victorian and Edwardian post boxes in North Leinster.