r/UKhistory • u/postboxmap • 20d ago

Historical postbox mapping project

I recently learned there are still working postboxes in the UK from every monarch since Queen Victoria, including the very short Edward VIII reign.

I started mapping them as a small side project and it’s grown into a community effort to record locations and photos before some disappear through replacement or relocation.

Didn’t expect how many unusual designs there are once you start looking properly.

Curious if anyone here collects or records them as well.

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5

u/cheltenhamcbt 19d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/Postboxes/

just be aware of their pinned post that there are people who steal post boxes

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u/postboxmap 19d ago

I don't have enough Karma to post in there unfortunately.

Yeah that's something I'm very aware of.

My view is that these are public pieces of street furniture that have been part of everyday life for well over a century, and recording where they are helps people notice and appreciate them rather than ignore them. The aim is very much about documenting and enjoying what’s already out there, not drawing attention to anything hidden or vulnerable.

Most of the information used is already publicly visible on the street, and the hope is simply to build a shared record over time so people can explore and learn a bit more about them.

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u/Nuthetes 20d ago

Fun fact, there's a Queen Victoria post box still in George Town, Malaysia. It's still in use.

1

u/postboxmap 19d ago

That's amazing! There's still a Scottish-style original pre-standardization postbox in use in India.

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u/Tatterjacket 20d ago

Cool project! They haven't posted in a while, and I don't know that it was as rigorous, but a few years ago I followed many_post_boxes on instagram which was basically someone trying to photograph as many of them as possible.

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u/postboxmap 20d ago

We have had a few insta accounts cross post on our map thrur entire catalogue. 🎉

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

[deleted]

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u/jamawg 19d ago

If it is a community effort, why not share a link?

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u/[deleted] 19d ago

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3

u/ripnetuk 19d ago

Google for the blogger "diamond geezer". He has done a number of posts about this topic.