Liverpool "Special" Pillar Box. As it says on the front, this was cast by Cochrane & Co. of Dudley in 1863. It is now located in the Albert Dock area of Liverpool. According to Liverpool journalist Jade Wright, this "iconic piece of Liverpool history.... is the last remaining fully working Liverpool Special, created especially for the second city of empire during its busiest period in history." Wright tells us that only seven were ever made, and an important reason for their deployment was that in Liverpool, in contrast to London and elsewhere, they could be used for posting newspapers as well as letters. "After a long battle with London, the postmaster was permitted to draw up his own design for a box which would meet all local requirements.... These boxes were based on the large first standard pillar boxes with a couple of notable additions, the most notable being the large crown on the top." Although this particular box was originally located elsewhere in the city, it seems very much at home in the bustling, rejuvenated Albert Dock area, where tourists can use it to send postcards home.
Photographs by Jacqueline Banerjee. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print document. [Click on the images to enlarge them.]
Reference
Wright, Jade. "Remembering the Liverpool Special postbox on its 150th birthday." Liverpool Echo. 28 January 2013. Web. 16 July 2016.
Created 16 July 2016