Pillar Box in London Zoological Gardens made by Andrew Handyside between 1887-1901

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge in Derby also made thousands of iconic Pillar boxes for the UK and Ireland? I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Britannia Ironworks on Duke Street, Derby.

Handyside had the Post Office Contract to make pillar boxes from 1878 to 1933 (1931-1933 known as Derby Castings). So its highly likely that at some point in your life a letter will have been posted via a Handyside box.

Here is one such Pillar Box in the grounds of London Zoological Gardens.
On the front of this box is a "VR" which is the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria. This would have been manufactured in Derby sometime between 1887-1901.

This pillar box has been converted to a money box, you can put money in the slot to donate to the Tiger SOS charity : http://www.zsl.org/tiger-sos/

What a great paint job they have done to this Handyside box!!

Photograph of the amazing paint job :

Photograph by Sludgegulper.

As you can see this box used to be orange in 2005, I prefer the new paint job to this one as
its much more eye catching.

Photograph by PSD.

Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this Pillar Box on the world map.
My world map is the result of hundreds of hours of research into the company, plotting out each item as I find it.

Can you help find more Handyside stuff ?
If anyone out there knows of any other Pillar Boxes around the world bearing the Handyside badge that I have not mentioned yet then please get in touch with details, location, photographs etc.

Thanks
Andy