VR Pillar Box Cheltenham: Cleevelands Drive - GL50 45

This box was made by Cochrane of Dudley and this style was the original standardised pillar box. Prior to this first national standard, various designs were used around the country but in 1866, JW Penfold designed these hexagonal boxes which are now known as Penfolds.  This particular style of Penfold was made between 1873 and 1878 and is of small diameter with a low aperture.

Since the 1980s, replica Penfolds have been made with VR ciphers and placed in strategic points around the country.

This is box number GL50 45 and can be found on Cleevelands Drive near the Evesham Road in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.  There are seven original Penfolds left in Cheltenham.  There was an eighth standing outside the ladies college but that got destroyed by a reversing lorry in 2018.

It was spotted by Neil on 14 February 2019.