Victorian postbox, University Road, Galway
Item
Format
Jpg
Title
Victorian postbox, University Road, Galway
Identifier
VHS0001
Depiction
Set into a cut stone wall, a green box with the letters V and R, respectively, on either side of a crown above a hood with the words POST OFFICE above an aperture, and in the lower section a locked door with a black section containing words and numbers
Description
This is a Victorian postbox from the period 1887-1901, set into the cut limestone southern boundary wall of the University on University Road, Galway. The first postboxes (pillar boxes) were introduced in the Channel Islands in 1852 for the Post Office by Anthony Trollope (the later novelist who had also worked in Ireland for the Post Office) for the convenience of people at a distance from a post office. They reached Ireland in 1855. Smaller postboxes set into a wall were introduced in 1857. A new design was introduced in 1887, incorporating the royal cypher - at that time the letters VR (= Victoria Regina) with the Royal Crown between them - on the door and the words ‘Post Office’ on the hood above the aperture for letters. From the royal insignia on this postbox, it can be dated to the period 1887-1901.
Most of the early postboxes were painted dark bronze green throughout the United Kingdom, but in 1874 the Post Office decided to make postboxes more conspicuous by painting them royal red. Following Independence, the Irish Post Office generally left the postboxes as they were, but had them painted in the national colour, green.
The black section on the door sets out the collection times for weekdays, weekends and bank holidays: see the transcription of the text below under 'Text in image'. In that context, the letter B probably stands for Bailiú (= Collection).
The wall in which it is set is the southern boundary wall of the University as reconstructed (and lowered to make the University more visible to the public) in 1965 as a consequence of Galway Corporation's road widening scheme in the area
Most of the early postboxes were painted dark bronze green throughout the United Kingdom, but in 1874 the Post Office decided to make postboxes more conspicuous by painting them royal red. Following Independence, the Irish Post Office generally left the postboxes as they were, but had them painted in the national colour, green.
The black section on the door sets out the collection times for weekdays, weekends and bank holidays: see the transcription of the text below under 'Text in image'. In that context, the letter B probably stands for Bailiú (= Collection).
The wall in which it is set is the southern boundary wall of the University as reconstructed (and lowered to make the University more visible to the public) in 1965 as a consequence of Galway Corporation's road widening scheme in the area
References
Patrick Comerford , 'In search of more Victorian and Edwardian Postboxes', https://www.patrickcomerford.com/2020/11/in-search-of-more-victorian-and-edward.html, accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
Historic England, 'Royal Mail Post Boxes', https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/royal-mail-post-boxes/heritage-agreement-for-royal-mail-post-boxes/, accessed 28 Oct. 2023.
Contributor
Bibliographic Citation
C. Walsh, S. Mac Mathúna, 'Victorian postbox, University Road, Galway', Visual History Retired Staff Collection, University of Galway Digital Collections, Asset Id 14207, Archival Record Id VHRS
Text in image
V R
POST OFFICE
UAIRE B
BAILITHE (= Collection times)
LUAN GO HAOINE
(MONDAY TO FRIDAY)
A.M. P.M.
8 5
SATHARN
(SATURDAY) C. 10 A.M.
______________________________________________________
DOMHNACH
(SUNDAY) ______________________________________
SAOIRE BAINC
(BANK HOLIDAY) ___________________________________
POST OFFICE
UAIRE B
BAILITHE (= Collection times)
LUAN GO HAOINE
(MONDAY TO FRIDAY)
A.M. P.M.
8 5
SATHARN
(SATURDAY) C. 10 A.M.
______________________________________________________
DOMHNACH
(SUNDAY) ______________________________________
SAOIRE BAINC
(BANK HOLIDAY) ___________________________________
Spatial Coverage
Temporal Coverage
Category
colour
off-campus
outdoors
Language
English
Irish
Creator
Clare Walsh
Publisher
University of Galway Library
Rights
This image may be used for non-commercial purposes under CC BY-NC-SA see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Provenance
Image given by Clare Walsh to Séamus Mac Mathúna for the Visual History Retired Staff Collection in 2023 and scanned by Jackie Uí Chionna . Research by Séamus Mac Mathúna.