post box

Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, c. 1905, with 'ER VII' royal cipher and raised crown motif. Raised ‘Post Office’ lettering to letter flap and foundry name to the base (now illegible). Set into coursed limestone gate pier at the former main entrance to Shawbrook (13402402), adjacent to rural crossroad junction, and located to the east of Legan.

This cast-iron post box forms an attractive addition to the rural landscape to the east of Legan. The modest design of the post box is enhanced by the royal cipher with crown motif, which enlivens the appearance of this otherwise functional object. It identifies the reign of Edward VII (1901 - 1910). Many pre-independence post boxes were simply painted green and retained their royal insignia but are becoming a rare sight and are worthy of retention as historical artifacts. The raised insignia demonstrates the artistic qualities of mass production at the time of its casting. The foundry mark is now illegible, but it was possibly 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.