Edward VIII postbox at Heaton Mersey

An Edward VIII postbox (SK4 304D) stands at the corner of Fylde Road and Mauldeth Road in Heaton Mersey.

The insignia/cypher dates it to the 326 day reign of King Edward VIII who became king on the death of his father on January 20th 1936 and abdicated on December 11th 1936.

Only about 160 postboxes bearing the cypher of Edward VIII were made. Estimates as to how many have survived vary between 80 and 130. One theory claims that some Edward VIII postbox doors were replaced by George VI doors.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

George V postbox at Stockport Station

In the wall by the steps up to Platform 1 at Stockport Station is a postbox with a GR cypher for the reign of George V. I'd never noticed it until recently as it is a little tucked away and then again I more often than not arrive on a different platform and take the lift down to the subway rather than the stairs.

Next to the postbox which is labelled SK3 101 is a No Smoking notice that points out that even the open air sections are a no-smoking area.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Post Boxes on Exchange Street

Exchange Street leads from Wellington Road South into the Bus Station past the sorting office. Across the road by the side of a disabled parking bay is a pair of postboxes (SK1 999) one for stamped mail and one for franked mail only. In the background is the Hat Museum, its chimney flanked by adverts for office space.

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Ruby Tuesday;
Our World Tuesday;
signs, signs.

Double postbox on Castle Street, Edgeley

Castle Street used to be the main thoroughfare through Edgeley before it was bypassed by Mercian Way and sections of it pedestrianised.

It is still a busy street with many shops, pubs, cafés and much else.

A closer view of the double postbox SK3 24.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Postboxes on St Peter's Square

This double-fronted postbox is located outside the former Prudential building in St Peter's Square. The postboxes are labelled SK1 386 (left) and SK1 385 (right). On the right is a postbox for "franked mail" only.

This view is from the other side looking past the statue of Richard Cobden towards St Peter's Church. For more information about St Peter's Church see our post dated 16th June 2013. For more information and a better view of the statue see my photograph on Geograph.

The distinctive business postbox for franked mail was introduced in the mid-1990s. Before the advent of such boxes, franked mail could not be posted in a letter box and thus had to be handed in at a post or sorting office unless the business had a visit from the postman. (The reason for this is that ordinary stamped mail would be sent to the sorting office and postmarked, whereas franked mail is already dated by the sender's franking machine.)

Because it is designed for business mail, it is found usually in business parks and industrial estates or in areas of town which are heavily occupied by businesses – and has relatively late final collection times.

It is opened by pulling down the black handle on the sliding opening, and when the final collection of the day is made it will be locked shut and reopened the next weekday morning (including Saturday if the box has a Saturday collection). This is because, as franked mail is dated by the customer rather than at the sorting office, it must be posted on the same day as the date indicated on the franked impression. By accepting later items which would not be collected till the following day, it would give the false impression that Royal Mail had taken a day longer to deliver the item. Information courtesy of Chris Downer.

More information about "franking" can be found on the Royal Mail website.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Two Jubilee kiosks

The pair of K6 Telephone kiosks outside the Golden Lion are Grade II listed.

The kiosks are identical, constructed in cast iron, with three glazed sides in eight registers with margin lights, and a solid rear side with reeded decoration. The Soane-inspired canopy dome is placed above the four arched sides, each with a crown in relief above a glazed panel inscribed 'TELEPHONE'. The kiosks are placed back to back and contain modern telecommunications equipment.

The archetypal K6 telephone kiosk was introduced in 1935 to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V and is commonly known as the 'Jubilee Kiosk'. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott as a development of his earlier K2 kiosk design of 1924. Its design has become iconic and represents the careful adaptation of Neoclassical design, influenced by the work of the Regency architect Sir John Soane, to a mass produced object with a modern technological function.

The logo on the flower-planter on the left references Stockport's three rivers, the Tame and Goyt which together form the Mersey.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Stockport Post Office

Stockport Post Office is found at the Chestergate end of Adlington Walk off the Merseyway Shopping Centre. This photograph was taken on Christmas Eve.

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George V postbox on Wellington Road North

In June I showed you a wall postbox from the reign of Victoria. In July I showed you a lamp postbox from the reign of Elizabeth II. In August I showed you a cylinder pillar box from the reign of George VI.

This month I'm showing you another pillar box from the reign of George V. It is on Wellington Road North and is inscribed at the base with the name of the manufacturers:

CARRON COMPANY
STIRLINGSHIRE

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George VI Postbox in Lower Bredbury

A few weeks ago I showed you a Victorian post box on Little Undercliff. That one was a "wall box".

Last week I showed you an Elizabethan post box at Carlton Crescent. That one was a small "lamp post box".

This one in Lower Bredbury is more common "cylinder pillar box" and carries the cypher of George VI. The design has been around since 1879 so examples can be found with the cyphers all the monarchs from Victoria to Elizabeth II. The small lamp boxes have been around since 1897.

In recent times (post 1980) the words POST OFFICE on boxes has been replaced by ROYAL MAIL. An interesting web site for more information about British post boxes is Paul's Unofficial Letterbox Pages.

For Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Elizabethan postbox on Carlton Crescent

Three weeks ago I showed you a Victorian Postbox on Little Underbank.

By way of contrast, this is an Elizabethan postbox on the corner of Carlton Crescent and Newbridge Lane.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Victorian Post Box on Little Underbank

Between the Fancy Dress shop on Little Underbank and the St Petersgate Bridge is a Victorian Post Box.

This particular design of wall box was manufactured from 1881 until the end of her reign.

It is still in use and like all UK post boxes shows the times of the last collection which is 6.30 pm Monday to Friday and 11.45 am Saturday. There are no collections on Sunday.

A contribution to Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.

Benches and listed phone boxes

The three benches outside the White Lion on Great Underbank have a "Three Rivers" theme relating to the Tame and Goyt which merge at Portwood to form the Mersey.

Behind them are a pair of K6 Telephone kiosks which are Grade II listed. The kiosks are identical, constructed in cast iron, with three glazed sides in eight registers with margin lights, and a solid rear side with reeded decoration. The Soane-inspired canopy dome is placed above the four arched sides, each with a crown in relief above a glazed panel inscribed 'TELEPHONE'. The kiosks are placed back to back and contain modern telecommunications equipment.

The archetypal K6 telephone kiosk was introduced in 1935 to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V and is commonly known as the 'Jubilee Kiosk'. It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott as a development of his earlier K2 kiosk design of 1924. Its design has become iconic and represents the careful adaptation of Neoclassical design, influenced by the work of the Regency architect Sir John Soane, to a mass produced object with a modern technological function.

They are still in use.

For Ruby Tuesday and Our World Tuesday.