post box

Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, c. 1890, with 'VR' royal cipher and raised crown motif. Raised ‘Post Office’ lettering to letter flap and foundry name to the base (W.T. Allen and Company of London). Set into rendered pier adjacent to Crossea Crossroad junction. Located to the east of Ardagh, close to the former Crossea Post Office.

An attractive item of street furniture that represents an early surviving artefact of mass-produced cast-iron ware. The modest design of the box is enhanced by the royal cipher (identifying the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 - 1901) and the crown motif, which enliven the appearance of this otherwise functional object. Many pre-independence post boxes were simply painted green and retained their royal insignia but are now becoming an increasingly rare sight and are worthy of retention as historical artifacts. It was cast by W. T. Allen and Company of London (1881 - 1955), who were responsible for many of the late-Victorian and Edwardian post boxes in North Leinster. This post box is sited at a prominent crossroads, which is a common site for post boxes for obvious reasons, and close to the site of the former post office. It is still in service providing an important facility for the local community. It was probably moved to its present site from outside Crossea Post Office, which was located a short distance to the north of this site.