Derby Castings Limited GR Wall Box on Western Road, Mickleover, Derby made in 1933.

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 example of a Wall Box that was made at the Britannia Ironworks in 1933. This one is still in constant use to this day. Its located in the wall outside a shop on Westrn Road, Mickleover, Derby, Derbyshire, UK. The GR is the Royal cipher for King George V.

Manufacture of cast-iron wall boxes in the UK for postal use finished in 1980.

Photographs

Photograph showing the location of the Wall Box outside the shop on Western Road


Photograph showing the complete wall box.


Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, Derby"


Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this Wall 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 of this wall 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

Derby Castings Limited GR Wall Box on Willington Post Office made in 1933.

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 example of a Wall Box that was made at the Britannia Ironworks in 1933. This one is still in constant use to this day. Its located in the wall outside the Post Office on The Castle Way in Willington, Derbyshire, UK.
The GR is the Royal cipher for King George V.

Manufacture of cast-iron wall boxes in the UK for postal use finished in 1980.

Photographs

Photograph showing the location of the Wall Box outside Willington Post Office


Photograph showing the complete wall box.


Photograph showing the Royal Cipher and makers badge "Derby Castings Limited, Derby"



Map Location:
View my Andrew Handyside World Map to see the exact location of this Wall 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 of this wall 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

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

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

Black Handyside pillar box inside the business design centre, Islington, London. A Queen Victoria model.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made thousands of England's iconic red pillar boxes? I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

This odd coloured Handyside Pillar Box is located inside the business design centre, Islington, London. Notice how the makers name "A. Handyside and Co of Derby and London" has been emphasised.

You may be asking yourself why is this post box inside a building, well the business design centre used to be the Royal Agricultural Hall which has a Single span Iron Roof that was manufactured in Derby by Andrew Handyside. It was built in 1862.

Photograph of the black Handyside Pillar Box.This Queen Victoria model was made before 1901.



Photograph by Suzigun.

Look out for a future post about the former Royal Agricultural Hall made by A. Handyside.
More info on this building as it is today:  www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk

Thanks
Andy

A Handyside pillar box in Oakwood, Derby. A King Edward VII model.

Did you know that Andrew Handyside who made Friar Gate bridge also made thousands of Englands iconic red pillar boxes? I doubt many people are aware of this fact that they were made right here in Derby at the Duke Street Foundry "Britannia Iron Works".

There is a great looking one in Oakwood, Derby. Perhaps you have driven past it and never given it a thought. It looks like it was probably restored at some point in the past as the paint is in very good condition.
This one would have been manufactured between 1901 and 1910.

Here is a photograph I took of the King Edward VII model Handyside Pillar Box in Oakwood, Derby.



There are only three pillar boxes made by Handyside left standing in Derby (as far as I know).
If you spot one in Derby that is made by Handyside then please leave a comment to this post.

If you  would like to learn more about Pillar Boxes then I found a very good little video about this which in included in my Andrew Handyside Video Playlist here.

Andy