Survey Data
Reg No
40501196
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Historical, Social, Technical
Original Use
Post box
In Use As
Post box
Date
1880 - 1900
Coordinates
216654, 411481
Date Recorded
01/12/2008
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Wall-mounted cast-iron post-box, cast c. 1890 and erected in current site in 1946, having raised 'VR' royal cipher and crown motif to head. 'Post Office' lettering to letter flap, now denuded, and foundry name not legible. Set in rubble limestone boundary wall to rear (west) of St. Eunan’s cathedral (see 40501168), to the north of the Loreto convent (see 40501188), and to the west\north-west of the centre of Letterkenny.
Appraisal
An attractive item of street furniture that represents an early surviving artefact of mass-produced cast-iron ware. Its survival is testament to the quality of its original design and of the materials used in its manufacturing. The modest design of the box is enhanced by the royal cipher (identifying the reign of Victoria) and the crown motif, which enliven the appearance of this otherwise functional object. It represents a rare surviving example of a VR post box in County Donegal. 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 artefacts. The foundry mark is now illegible though this post box may have been cast by W.T. Allen and Company of London (1881 - 1955), who were responsible for many of the Victorian era post boxes in Ireland. This post box was apparently moved to its current location in 1946, probably from another location close by. This simple piece of street furniture makes a positive contribution to the streetscape to the north-west\west of Letterkenny town centre, and is an integral element of the built heritage and social history of the local area.