The red pillar box as we know it today first appeared in the UK in 1857. Prior to this, designs varied from area to area. To begin with these were hexagonal in shape, but were standardised into the cylindrical boxes we know today in 1879.
This is a unique Victorian pillar box, believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain. The box is built into the railings of the Royal Hospital – and it has 2 slots, one on the front and one on the back, so that the ageing Chelsea Pensioners don’t have to leave the grounds of the hospital to post a letter.
You will clearly be able to see the post box 30m to the south of the cache location. PLEASE REPLACE THE CACHE SO THAT IT IS OUT OF SIGHT.
If you are interested in unusual pillar boxes, then check out my other caches in this series:
Special Delivery #1 - GCACP55
Special Delivery #2 - GCAR9WC
Special Delivery #3 - GCARPBA
Special Delivery #4 - GCAVWE1
Special Delivery #5 - GCAXDX6
Special Delivery #6 - GCB4GFY
Special Delivery #7 - GCB118Y
Special Delivery #8 - GCAXE0N
Special Delivery #9 - GCB2ZV0
Special Delivery #10 - GCB359X