Curiosities of the Building: The Post Box

The Portico is housed in its original building, a Grade II* Listed building of Regency Georgian architecture.  Most people assume that we are part of the Bank pub which in fact leases the ground floor from us! The building itself, designed by architect Thomas Harrison, contains numerous curiosities, one of which is the wall letter-box at the front of the building on the Charlotte Street corner at the base of a column.  The Library minute books tell us that the post-box has occupied its present site since 1895.  At the time of the Portico’s establishment, Mosley Street was a residential area, home to the genteel and elite of the city. Homes were gradually converted to warehouses and businesses and it eventually became the commercial area it now is.

Prior to the post-box Proprietors employed a ‘postman’ to take their mail for a salary of £2 per annum from 1822 to 1837, a position which was possibly succeeded by the Library’s ‘boy’ until 1863. However, despite the convenience of having a post-box, quite literally, on the doorstep, the minutes reflect that the Committee and Proprietors kicked up quite a fuss with the Postmaster and Corporation over the idea of a post-box being placed on their land.

Regardless of their objections, and despite the establishment of Post Office buildings within a close proximity, the pillar-box red post-box with its raised crown and "VR" and its “Post Office” inscription has remained in its original site, just like the Library, for over 100 years, an institution in itself.

More information on the Portico post-box is available in The Portico Library Post-Box: a link with 1883, Portico Monograph No. 8 by Phyllis M. Giles (1996), on sale for £1.50 in the Library.