The Post Box

The humble postbox is often overlooked and taken for granted as a facility for depositing mail to be distributed all around the country, or even the world, by the Royal Mail postal service. In the UK little is known about the origins of the iconic bright red postbox, which before the inception of the Internet, was once a beacon of communication, dotted around towns and cities; often relied upon in order to keep friends and families in touch with one another, at a time before travel became common place, communicating news of births, deaths and marriages, as well as facilitating business transactions. Now the bright red postbox is very often unheeded, unless looked for.

It is widely believed that the origins of the very first postbox can be traced back to Paris, to as far back as 1653, when the first postbox was installed in France’s capital city. The postbox was then to become far more widely used across the country over the proceeding 200 years, and so by the year 1829, there were far more postboxes to be found in France, not just in Paris, but all across the country, as the postbox became the very first communication network, both convenient and expedient, to establish itself at that time.

The very first postbox made available for public use was located in Poland and installed in Warsaw, much later than those deployed in Paris, in the year of 1842. In Britain, the oldest postbox is believed to be that which was installed in Wakefield in West Yorkshire, it is dated 1809; indicating that the postal network came to Britain considerably later than the inception of the postbox across the English channel in France, over one hundred and fifty years previously. This very early example of what is thought to be the first postbox installed in Britain is now on proud display at the Wakefield museum.

Throughout history, the style of the postbox has changed, and in 1852 the first pillar box postbox was installed in Jersey. And so, just a year after the first pillar box had been erected in Jersey, the first pillar style postbox found it’s way to Britain, and from there the postal network flourished, with postboxes of different shapes and sizes making an appearance just four years later, as wall boxes installed in roadside locations began to spring up around rural districts, proving to be a far cheaper alternative to the iconic freestanding vibrant red pillar style postbox that has come to be synonymous with the British postal network today.

Even with the phenomenal growth of e-mail as a communication tool, millions of letters are sent every day.  Marketing managers use internet marketing tools for promoting their products, but direct mail to send out information about products is often still used.  Letter boxes are not yet completely out of vogue and snail mail is still used in many situations for sending fliers and magazines.   There will always be a demand for letter boxes while snail mail is used.  Financial service companies such as banks also use snail mail to send confidential documents and new credit and debit cards and a letter box is needed to receive the letters and packages.  Research has shown that consumers often prefer to receive correspondence by snail mail and that many people ignore unsolicited emails and consider it as spam.

If you work from home, you may find a letter box useful so that you can receive mail when you are not in the house.   People who are out at work during the day need a letter box for receiving mail when the postman makes his delivery.  He needs to be sure that you receive your mail safely so it is your responsibility to provide a suitable letter box.

People are shopping on line more often these days, and even if you are not at home to receive parcels which will not fit in the letter box the postman will need a place to leave a card to let you know that he tried to deliver.

Apartment and office blocks often have a multi occupancy letter box in the lobby so that the postman does not have to deliver to every individual property.   This is vey convenient for the postman and for the occupants as they do not have to have a letter box in the door, which could cause problems in some high crime areas.  Each resident has a key to a letter box which is labelled with their name so that they can collect the mail from the box at a time which is convenient to them.

The original reason why letter boxes were introduced was that they reduced the workload for the postman.  As the Royal Mail developed, it was thought that letter boxes would reduce the postman’s time in finding the householder at home to receive their mail.  Instead of handing the mail to the recipient, he could just drop the mail through the letter box. The introduction of the letter box was effectively a cost cutting and productivity exercise.

Letter boxes were introduced in the UK in 1849 and there is still a place for them in the modern world. Even if you do most of your communication through electronic means, you will still need a letter box to be able to receive letters and cards.  The style of letter box you use is a personal preference, but it must be convenient and accessible for the postman. Letter boxes are convenient and save time and money.

There are many types of letter boxes available on the market, but what should you look for when purchasing a letter box for your property.  Much will depend on where you live and what type of property you live in as to the type of letter box you will need.  If you live in an apartment in an urban area, you may be more concerned about vandalism of the letter box than if you live in a rural country mansion.  There are several key things you will need to take into consideration.

Security of your incoming mail.  Steel or cast aluminium letter boxes are stronger and more robust than the plastic variety.   Letter boxes made of some kind of metal are more durable than other materials and are usually supplied with a key. Having a key is fundamental to keeping your mail secure whatever material it is made of, and having a steel letter box with a built in anti arson facility will ensure that the contents are less likely to be damaged in the case of the letter box being set alight.

The size of your letter box is also a consideration, and most letter boxes come in a standard size to accept A4 envelopes.  There are large capacity letter boxes available as well as ones which will accept newspapers and magazines.  The latter is very useful if you receive a lot of publications as they can be slotted into the letter box.

If you live in an apartment block or your company is located in an office block, there are multi occupancy letter boxes available and you will normally be allocated a mail box and key by the management company under the service agreement.

Many letter boxes are mounted on the wall or gate outside the property and they should always be easily accessible for the postman.  Letter boxes of this type are available in a variety of materials and styles. If you are fixing a letter box to a wall or gate, you should ensure that it is securely fastened and cannot be easily removed, especially in urban areas where the crime rate is high.

Many letter boxes are slots in the front door of the property and these are easily fitted into wooden and PVC doors.  There are also mail cages which can be mounted inside the door which catch the mail as the postman pushes the mail through the letter box.  This prevents the mail falling on the floor and getting damaged by the dog or the kids!

Whether you are choosing a letter box for residential or business purposes, you may wish to consider some of the points above to ensure that you purchase the correct post box to suit your purpose.   There is no substitute for a secure letter box which is conveniently placed both for the postman to deliver the mail and for you to retrieve it.  Even in with the increase in the use of email and internet marketing, the letter box is important.

There is a bewildering variety of post boxes available, so when you want to purchase a post box, you have lots of designs, styles and materials to choose from.   It will depend on what type of property you need the post box for as to which you will buy.  There are four basic designs of post boxes. A simple slot in the door is the most popular design for urban properties and can be seen in most front doors in the UK.  This design of post box is also known as a letter plate. They are easy to fit and provide good access for the postman to deliver your letters.  The slot in the door post box must be well fitted so that there are no draughts which will allow heat loss from your property.  If a retaining spring on the post box breaks, then it is better to replace the whole letter box so that it does not rattle in the wind.  You can also purchase indoor letter cages to complement your letter box so that mail pushed through the door does not fall on the floor.  The slot letter box can be made of aluminium, stainless or galvanised steel and can be fitted in uPVC or wooden doors.

The second design of letter box is a box attached to your property, gate or wall.  There are many styles of letter box of this design.  Some have rear retrieval options with a mail chute which may be more convenient in some situations.  Other letter boxes are large capacity specifically designed for newspapers and large letters.  The box design of a post box can be lockable, anti arson and made of a number of steel, cast aluminium or plastic, depending on your requirements.

Post boxes which are located on the street or at the end of a drive in remote areas are normally mounted on a post or wall.  Some post boxes are built into a wall and have a letter plate and lockable front panel.  There are models of post boxes which have their own mount and are easily installed.  Free standing post boxes of this type are made of steel or cast aluminium, are weatherproof and durable.

Multi occupancy post boxes are designed for buildings which are occupied by different residents such as an apartment block, or a commercial property which is rented by a number of companies. Individual residents will want to make sure that mail is delivered to the correct address within the building, and the easiest way is to have a multi occupancy post box on the ground floor. Each resident has access to his / her post box and are provided with a key by the management company which looks after the communal areas of the building.

Whatever your requirements for a post box you will be able to find a design, style and colour to suit your purpose.  By shopping around, you will be able to find the best price within your budget.  There are many companies offering post boxes on the internet.

Whether you are a private resident, an individual working from home, or a business, you will need a letter box to receive your incoming mail.  Letter boxes are available in many designs, but there are only four basic styles.  The slot in the door, the letter box which fixes to a door or wall, a multi occupancy mail box and free standing letter boxes which can be mounted on a post.  Letter boxes were first introduced into Britain the Post Office in 1849 in an effort to reduce the workload of the postman.  When letters were delivered, there was often nowhere to put them so post boxes started to appear to make mail delivery quick and easy.

Despite the growth in electronic mail, there is still a great demand for letter boxes to receive mail which cannot be sent by electronic means such as magazines and secure correspondence.  Private residents find letter boxes useful as they are often at work when the mail is delivered. The growth of on line shopping means that many more parcels are delivered. If the recipient is not at home, a card can be put in the letter box to advise the recipient that there is a parcel waiting at the post office.

With an increase in the number of people who work from home either on a permanent or temporary basis, letter boxes are required by home based workers for the delivery of important documents and parcels from head office.  While the majority of correspondence can be done electronically, some items may be sent by post to the home worker, and a letter box to receive them is required.

Businesses also receive mail at offices, and again letter boxes are required.  In a multi occupancy building where there are many offices, it saves time for the postman to deliver the mail to the individual post boxes in a multi occupancy post box on the ground floor rather than visit every floor in the building.  This would be very time consuming especially in a large building, although items requiring a signature must be delivered by hand.

Post boxes are a valuable addition to any building, saving time and money for the post office, as well as the recipient who need not visit the post office to collect the mail.  The location of the post box should be as convenient as possible for the postman, so that he does not have to spend time walking round the property to find it.

Mail can be delivered through the letter box at any time of the day.  Security of the mail must be considered, and most letter boxes are sold with a key.  There are also anti arson letter boxes in case someone tries to set fire to the mail.   Where confidential correspondence is sent through the post, a secure letter box is essential, and if in any doubt, you can send letters by recorded delivery to be signed for by the recipient.  Large capacity post boxes are particularly useful for receiving newspapers and large envelopes which would not fit in a standard letter box.

In the UK, the red Post Box has been part of life since it was developed by the novelist Anthony Trollope in 1852. It was a hundred years before the pillar box was standardised and you will also see red fascia Post Boxes affixed into walls. The standard Post Box is a pillar type with an aperture in which to drop your outgoing mail. The only disadvantage is that the slot is quite small and does not allow larger items to be put in the Post Box. On the other hand, you can rest assured that your mail will be safe and cannot be retrieved by any unauthorised person. The postman has a key which he carries on his rounds and he is not allowed to return letters to you which have been put in the Post Box in error.

Outgoing Mail Boxes in the US are of an entirely different design, but no less distinctive if you have lived in or visited the US. In cities and towns in the US, the mail boxes are designed to accept larger letters and even packages which cannot be retrieved except by the postman. As in the UK, you will have to ensure that you have paid the correct postage. With the regulations in the UK which govern the weight as well as the dimensions of letters, it is not feasible to use large US style mail boxes in the UK, unless you have a method of determining the cost for outgoing mail. Some companies offer franking machines and methods of determining the cost at home or office before putting the package in the Post Box. However, you may still need to visit the post office as your package will not fit in the standard UK style Post Box.

For incoming mail, US style Mail Boxes for individual properties are becoming more common in the UK. This type of mail box can be mounted on a post, fixed to a wall or be standalone. There can be problems with Post Boxes which are fixed in front doors, as they can have strong springs which cause difficulties when the postman wants to deliver letters. Ease of use for both the consumer and the postman should be taken into consideration when selecting a style of Post Box. There are many styles and designs of Post Boxes on the market and you will need to do your research to decide which is the easiest and the best for your situation. Making life easy for the postman will ensure a more efficient delivery service. For example, if you live at the end of a long road in a remote area and are the only resident, put a Post Box at the end of the drive and empty it regularly. This will save the postman time and money when delivering your mail. If this is not feasible, make sure that the Post Box is easily accessible and that the postman does not have to deal with aggressive dogs or even geese!

If you’re one of those “lucky” people who work from home (the jury’s still out on how beneficial it is to have a sofa and flatscreen TV tempting you daily from just a few doors away!), you’ll be familiar with the idea of boundaries between work and home life. As with all the elements of your business, making sure the right components and resources are readily available as and when you need them is essential.

Although we’ve cross-referenced our postbox collection to be accessed under both “Domestic” and “Commercial” headings, the home office tends to cover a little of both. So, what’s the best postbox for your home business hub?

Normal Use
For some, the home office mail needs only slightly elevate above that of the normal home. In such cases you can afford to scale back on the commercial search and look instead to secure domestic postboxes. These are designs like wall mounted lockable steel postboxes that store your mail inside until you’re ready to access it (so no pet accidents or child scribbles to worry about!) We stock lots of designs in a variety of colours.

High Capacity
Extra large domestic postboxes are ideal for the home businessperson who expects a high volume of mail. Some of our domestic large capacity designs go up to a massive forty-eight litres, and come in a great variety of colours.

If you’d like more information, please get in touch on 01943 463998 to chat things through with one of our advisors.

If you have a dog or cat that’s just a little bit too friendly with the postman—or perhaps unfriendly—and you want to teach them not to bother him or other strangers when they come to your door, here are some tips to help you keep your pet from bothering the postman.

First, if you let your pet outside during the day and he or she is out when the postman comes to the postboxes, warn your postman that you have pets. If you see your postman you can tell him, but if you don’t, you can put up a “beware of dog” sign or some other sign indicating that you have pets. Warning the postman in advance may help a lot because the pet won’t surprise them when he’s putting post in the postboxes.

Next, teach your dog or cat not to bother strangers with loud noises, clawing, biting, etc. You can use books or the internet to find ways of training your pet, or you could take your pet to an obedience class.

If you keep your pet inside but they bother the postman by barking loudly, or perhaps sticking their paws through letterboxes or post slots in the door, you can get letterboxes with slits that open on the outside, or you can get some kind of an insert that will keep your pet from being able to stick its paws through.

The best prevention is to train your pet. And there is no excuse for a misbehaving pet when there are so many resources out there on how to train your animal to be nice and friendly.

If you love crafting and decorating, you’re probably always looking for new ideas. Here’s an idea for a small cupboard or shelf that you can make from a postbox. Decorate it any way you like, and it won’t take you long to come up with some beautiful ideas.

First, find some old postboxes, or buy some new ones. You can get used ones from flats, schools, or other buildings that are remodelling or need to buy new ones and will otherwise just throw the old ones away. You can ask your friends and family to watch out for old ones too, but if you can’t find any, buy a new one from a company like Mailbox Mania.

Now come up with some ideas for decorating your postbox cupboard or shelf. You could decoupage, paint, or eve glue little beads and buttons on it. You could decorate the inside like a little dollhouse and put some ornaments and miniatures inside.

Decide whether you want to keep the door on the box or not. If you decide to remove the door, you can use your postboxes as little shelves to hang on the wall. If you leave the door on, you can make a little cupboard that you could keep on a table or your kitchen counter. You could store tea or biscuits inside.

Decorate your shelf, and when you’re happy with how it looks, let any paint or glue dry before you put things inside or hang it on a wall.