In 1853 the first pillar box on the British mainland was erected at Botchergate, Carlise.
They have stood by the roadside ever since, quietly collecting mail, come rain or shine.
Over the years there have been varying sizes and designs as the needs of the public changed and the contract for their construction moved from Foundry to Foundry. The makers name can tell you a lot about the postbox and even help to date it but they are often unreadable due to layers of paint.
Other than some early ‘anonymous’ boxes each letter box bears the insignia of the reigning Monarch at the time it was erected.
Queen Victoria 1837 - 1901
King Edward VII 1901 - 1910
King George V 1910 - 1936
King Edward VIII Jan - Dec 1936
King George VI 1936 - 1952
Queen Elizabeth II 1952 – To date
Of the 6 monarchs that have reigned since this time there are 4 examples within Glossop. To see the other two you will have to go further afield.
This geocache will take you to a fine example of a Victorian pillar box made by Handyside & Co., Derby & London between 1889–1901
As a sign of their steadfast resilience this particular postbox remained standing amidst the devastation of an IRA bomb.
Put back the pieces to reveal the final location.
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death.
From 1 May 1876, she had the additional title of Empress of India. Victoria was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. Both the Duke of Kent and King George III died in 1820, and Victoria was raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She inherited the throne aged 18, after her father's three elder brothers had all died, leaving no surviving legitimate children.
The United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the sovereign held relatively little direct political power. Privately, Victoria attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments; publicly, she became a national icon who was identified with strict standards of personal morality.
