VR Ludlow Box Winchester: Kingsgate Street - SO23 4

Ludlow boxes were introduced in 1880 primarily for post offices and initially designed by a Mr Cole.  They were known as Cole boxes for a while but a Mr Ludlow designed the majority in the twentieth century and they are now known as Ludlow boxes.   They were a form of wall box but were built so they could be opened and emptied from the rear, in other words within the post office itself.  Until the standard design was introduced in 1880 they were generally built by local carpenters to fit the dimensions of the pane/s of glass they replaced in the windows of post offices.  They were often made of wood and were nearly always fitted with an enamel plate indicating that it was a letter box.

This particular box is number SO23 4 and is a standard model made by E. Cole of Birmingham and was a Ludlow made between 1885 and 1895.  It can be found at number 1 Kingsgate Street in Winchester, Hampshire

It was spotted by Steve on 10 January 2021.