Christmas 2023 post box toppers
Contents
Overview
This page depicts examples of post box toppers from Christmas 2023. Strangely, while walking in Mill Hill on Christmas Eve-Eve, it seems that the practice does not extend into that region! There was only time to sample a selection of them over the Christmas period and, due to the short days and seasonal conditions, the lighting conditions were not ideal!
Bedfordshire
The Central Bedfordshire examples are all anonymous; all photos were collected on post box hunt 2, 30th December 2023.
Harlington
The Harlington post box in Park Leys was previously seen decorated for Remembrance; this was therefore the first (and expected) find on post box hunt 2. The Christmas 2023 decoration however is a little macabre, with a snowman lynch mob.
Upper Sundon
Upper Sundon next. I didn’t know what I would find here, but it stood to reason that there would be a decorated post box and indeed there was. Another Elizabeth II example, and the sole post box, on Harlington Road (number LU3 65). It’s anyone’s guess what this topper is supposed to be. Some strange ideas in this area!
Lower Sundon
Finally, Lower Sundon’s post box, LU3 63. This is the only pox box that I definitely expected to be decorated, and I was not disappointed. Here we get a drunk Santa.
Hertfordshire
The St Albans examples, and those of some of the surrounding towns and villages, invite you to visit the St Albans Postboxes website where there are links to donate to their chosen charities. The St Albans group—whose area in 2023 also covered London Colney, Park Street, How Wood, Chiswell Green, Wheathampstead, Harpenden, Redbourn and Sandridge—listed exactly 80 toppers for Christmas 2023. Only a few examples are included here, those that I came across during December.
Codicote
This is a standard Elizabeth II pillar box on Codicote High Street. Photos taken after dark on post box hunt 1, 26/12/2023, so they are not the best. The topper appears to depict six angels around the Star of Bethlehem.
Harpenden
Piggottshill Lane
This is an Elizabeth II double pillar box, on Piggottshill Lane at the junction with Southdown Road, Cravells Road and Grove Road. (Number 67 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by Wildgoose.)
Claire Toms provided the topper.
The photos were taken on Coronavirus walk 185, 02/12/2023 (except the last one, taken and added 28/12/2023).
Sandridge
This is an Elizabeth II pillar box in the centre of Sandridge Village, just along from the village stores. (Number 66 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by the Green Man village pub.)
Candy Stuart and Gillian Winkworth provided the topper together.
The photos were taken on Coronavirus walk 185, 02/12/2023. The photos of the attribution and charity cards were taken later, on Christmas Day.
St Albans
Lemsford Road
This is an Edward VII pillar box at the north end of Lemsford Road, by the junction with Sandpit Lane. (Number 44 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by Common People Indie Nights.)
Gillian Winkworth provided the topper, which features a tree farm.
The photos were taken on Coronavirus walk 188, 23/12/2023. While I was taking the pictures, a postman turned up and corrected the next collection date from MON to WED.
Manor Road
This is a George V pillar box at the entrance to Manor Road off Lemsford Road. (Number 43 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by Twin Systems.) The manufacturer is McDowell Steven & Co Ltd, London & Glasgow.
Gillian Winkworth provided the topper, which features a reindeer pulling Santa in his sleigh across the top of the world.
The photos were taken on Coronavirus walk 187, 16/12/2023.
Toulmin Drive
This is a George VI pillar box along Toulmin Drive, St Albans. (Number 56 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by Dress Up & Dance.)
Hannah Crompton provided the topper.
The photos were taken on Coronavirus walk 189 on Christmas Day 2023. Another unexpected discovery, this time after dark in the rain!
Marten Gate
This is a bog-standard Elizabeth II pillar box along Marten Gate, St Albans. (Number 52 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by STANTA, the St Albans Enterprise Agency.)
Isobel Cutforth provided the topper.
The photos were hastily taken on post box hunt 2 on the way to the station, on 30th December 2023. Some toppers had already been removed at this point, so it was fortunate that this one was still there.
Wheathampstead
Station Road
This is another Elizabeth II double pillar box outside the parade of shops in Station Road. (Number 63 in the St Albans Postboxes list and sponsored by Wheathampstead Businesses.)
Candy Stuart provided the topper.
The topper was discovered and photographed on Coronavirus walk 186, 09/12/2023, in darkness. The replacement photos above were taken on post box hunt 1, 26/12/2023.