post box

Wall-mounted cast-iron post box, c. 1915, with ' G.R.' royal cipher and raised crown motif to base, and raised ‘Letters Only’ lettering to head. Still in use. Set into blocked up entrance to former gate lodge (13401421) to the southwest boundary of the Carrigglas estate. Located adjacent to rural road junction to east of Longford Town.

An attractive item of street furniture that represents an early surviving artefact of mass-produced cast-iron ware. It is located adjacent to a rural road junction, a common site for post boxes for obvious practical reasons. The modest design of the box is enhanced by the royal cipher and the crown motif, which enliven the appearance of this otherwise functional object. The G.R cipher identifies the reign of King George V (from 1910 – 1936) and it acts as a subtle historical reminder of the period when Ireland formed part of the British Empire. Post boxes with the G.R. insignia are quite rare in Ireland, as they were erected only during a few years before independence. 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. This post box is of the ‘lamp-box’ type, the smallest model produced by the Royal Mail, and was intended for use in very rural locations. It is a rare example of its type in County Longford and is a worthy addition to the built heritage of the county.