Victorian Postbox

Victorian Postbox

John Wornham Penfold (1828-1909)

Near Harrow School

This was the hexagonal pillar box design, with beading round the rim and acanthus leaves on top of the dome, which was first produced in 1866 to the design of architect and surveyor John Penfold. Although it was replaced as the standard design in 1879 by the familiar round one, many of its features are still in use — including the colour. The Penfold boxes were the first to be manufactured in red (see "John Wornham Penfold"). This one has been particularly well maintained, as befits its historic location in the vicinity of the famous public school.

  • Harrow: An Introduction
  • Post Boxes
  • Photograph and text Jacqueline Banerjee

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