What is the History of the Letter Box?

Letter boxes are an essential feature of any property; whether its letters, bills, newspapers or parcels, the letter box facilitates the receiving of information just as easily as an inbox does on your email. But how have we got this far? Where did it all start with the letterbox?

Well, it wasn't until the 19th century when postboxes became increasingly popular in Europe. It was in Paris, France where they were first used in the 18th Century and almost 100 years later the UK cottoned on to the benefits of a mail slot or letterbox.

In the mid 19th century, the Post Office started to encourage the Great British public to use the letter box. Originally this was placed on the front door, usually a slot with a flap covering the gap. The idea was to receive letters in a safe and organized way each morning. The public would also be able to send letters and parcels using letter boxes at local Post Offices. It's thought the first ever one installed was by Wakefield Post Office, which still exists today.  The date 1809 is emblazed across it making it the oldest one still is use today.

The idea of having a letter box where people could send letters then evolved to having roadside ones in 1852. These type letter boxes were being used on the continent way before they reached Britain, and it was a gentleman by the name of Rowland Hill who suggested the idea. These letter boxes became known as pillar boxes and the first was revealed at a ceremony in St Hellier, Jersey, whilst the first pillar box on the mainland of Britain was at Botchergate, Carlisle in 1853.    

To start with, not all boxes were painted red, in fact many were black. Not only that, but they were made from various materials and not always the traditional cast iron. The late 19th Century saw many different designs, and many different materials being used.  For the Post Office the cylindrical style one proved to be the most popular, especially in larger towns and cities. For the smaller towns and villages across the country, smaller ones were used. These were either wall boxes, lamp boxes or telegraph pole boxes.

All styles of letter boxes were made out of cast iron, which became the material of choice thanks to its durability and relative strength. Birmingham manufacturer James Ludlow found this out the hard way after his Ludlow letter boxes, which were manufactured out of sheet metal and wood, were far more prone to rot than ones made out of cast iron.

For the general public, as the style of Post Office letter boxes changed, so too did the style of home letter boxes. Depending on the type of property you had and your personal tastes, you could have a simple slot in your front door, post poxes on the side of your home or positioned on driveway gates and pillars. Finally there are even post boxes built into the walls of homes or driveway pillars.

Many styles have been and gone, but the most popular and traditional of styles will always remain. For the Great British public, the traditional cast iron post boxes or built in the wall post boxes remain a favorite and quite a sort after product. For anyone looking to add style to their home, these are certainly recommended.