Pillar Box, Bridge Street, Boyle, Co Roscommon, Ireland made by Andrew Handyside before 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 Ireland and a distinctive green colour and still in use today.
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 is located outside the National Irish Bank on the corner of Bridge Street where it meets Patrick Street. This is in Boyle, County Roscommon in the Republic of Ireland.

Photograph of the green Handyside Pillar Box:

Photograph by Gerry Ward.

Here is a Google Streetview of this Pillar Box.

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.

Google Streetview has captured this Pillar Box.

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