George V post boxes
Contents
Overview
This page depicts examples of GR post boxes in the UK, believed to date to the reign of George V (6th May 1910 to 20th January 1936). There is some disagreement over the George V royal cypher. The Letter Box Study Group website indicates that “GR” on a post box only relates to George V, with George VI using GVIR. The Royal Cyphers on Letter Boxes page on the Postal Museum website claims that there was “no inclusion of the Roman numeral for five” in George V’s royal cypher. This is not strictly true, as there was a George V royal cypher variation with the “V” included (GVR), which can be seen on a post box 110 in Hong Kong (in 2010, at least), but in practice, UK postboxes from the reign of George V do all appear to say simply “GR”.
The photos were taken during my various walks.
Examples
Hatfield
This fine example has the inscriptions painted in gold. Ellenbrook Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Photos taken on pylon hunt 1, 06/08/2022.
Ampthill
A wall box at the entrance of Chandos Road in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. Manufacturer W T Allen & Co, London. Photos taken on Coronavirus walk 187, 16/12/2023.
St Albans
This pillar box example can be found mid-way along Sandpit Lane in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Photo taken on pylon hunt 23, 21/10/2023.
Ayot St Lawrence
This was one of the discoveries on post box hunt 1 on 26/12/2023 (see the VR page for more details).
This is a defunct GR wall box seemingly painted in quite a dark red. It has been replaced by an EIIR lamp box, post box AL6 146. The building to the left is the Brocket Arms public house. For some reason I keep forgetting to photograph the maker’s name, but it may also be W T Allen.
Codicote
Another example worth revisiting in brighter light: the down side to taking up the subject in winter! This is a GR wall box that has seen better days. It is another W T Allen & Co example. Assuming Street View’s dates are accurate (which they are not always) this post box was intact in June 2011 and damaged by August 2020, so it had held out for over 75 years before the accident occurred.
This example (postbox SG4 70) is worth a revisit during a time of year where the days are longer.
This is also from post box hunt 1, 26/12/2023.
Redbourn
This was the sole discovery on post box hunt 3, 27/01/2024.
I must have walked past this one several times by now and never noticed. I still forgot to document the maker’s name, but it could well be another W T Allen & Co type. Next time I’m in the area I need to take an additional photo.
Lemsford
A damaged GR wall box in Lemsford, manufactured by Derby Castings. Postbox no. AL8 180D.
