Tag: Royal Mail

History, Postal History

Gold Post Boxes: Commemorating Britain’s Sporting Heroes

British Olympic gold medal winners in 2012 got more than the gold medals that defined them as elite sportsmen and women. The gold medal winners for London 2012 were also commemorated with gold painted post boxes in their hometowns and a set of stamps. I bought two sets of stamps as mementoes of the historic games: those of Sir Andy Murray, who won his gold … Continue reading Gold Post Boxes: Commemorating Britain’s Sporting Heroes

HistorianRuby22 Comments
20th Century, History, Postal History, Women's History

Suffragettes and the Post: Pillar Box Attacks in Edwardian Britain

Emily Wilding Davison’s infamy was guaranteed when she stepped in front of the King’s horse, Anmer, at the 1913 Epsom Derby. Emily, in a long campaign of civil disobedience as a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), was a vociferous agitator for equal voting rights with men. In late 1911, she attempted to set fire to the contents of the pillar box … Continue reading Suffragettes and the Post: Pillar Box Attacks in Edwardian Britain

HistorianRuby10 Comments
Academic Research, History, Postal History

The Hidden History of British Post Boxes

For 160 years we have been posting our mail into pillar, wall and lamp boxes, but how many of us actually look at the box in which we post our mail?  Do we pay attention to the royal ciphers that denote the age of the box?  Or know the impact of momentous historical events that directly affect the letter boxes on our streets?  Post boxes, … Continue reading The Hidden History of British Post Boxes

HistorianRuby9 Comments