{"id":759001,"date":"2026-02-12T07:46:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T07:46:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/759001\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T07:46:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T07:46:20","slug":"postbox-created-especially-for-liverpool-thats-the-last-of-its-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/759001\/","title":{"rendered":"Postbox created especially for Liverpool that’s the last of its kind"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of people walk past it every year without realising its history\"liverpoolecho\"<\/p>\n

05:00, 12 Feb 2026<\/p>\n

\"Millions<\/p>\n

Millions of people walk past the Liverpool Special in the Albert Dock every year(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n

In the Royal Albert Dock sits a postbox that people walk past every single day. But this is no ordinary postbox, in fact it’s one of only seven that were ever made.<\/p>\n

Now more than 160 years old, the “Liverpool Special” is the last remaining fully working postbox of its kind. The distinctive “Liverpool Special” design is believed to have been created when it was argued by a mid-Victorian postmaster that regular postboxes were not able to cope with the heavy postings experienced in Liverpool, where, unlike London, the posting of newspapers as well as letters was allowed.<\/p>\n

Reports were also received from the public and the Liverpool Constabulary about boxes being filled to overflowing. After a long battle with London, the postmaster was permitted to draw up his own design for a box which would meet all local requirements and the Liverpool Special was born.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Liverpool Special postbox was moved to the Albert Dock in 1987<\/p>\n

The boxes were based on the large first standard pillar boxes in the distinctive bright red colour, but with a few notable additions, including a large gold royal crown on the top.<\/p>\n

A plaque on the front of the Albert Dock<\/a> Liverpool Special reads: \u201cThis is one of the original Liverpool Special Posting Boxes cast in 1863 by Messrs Cochrane and Company of Dudley. The unique design was authorised and introduced to meet heavy and special posting requirements found in certain parts of the city. The box was installed on this site in September 1987.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is unclear where all seven boxes were, but records show that six were initially located across Liverpool including outside Lime Street Station<\/a> by St George’s Hall<\/a>, in Exchange Flags, near the Town Hall, St Anne Street Islington, at the junctions of Sheil Road and Huntley Road, at the corner of Breck Road and Everton Road, and Church Road and Edge Lane.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A plaque on the front of the Albert Dock Liverpool Special reads: \u201cThis is one of the original Liverpool Special Posting Boxes cast in 1863 by Messrs Cochrane and Company of Dudley.”(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n

The Liverpool Special in Albert Dock was the one originally sited in Sheil Road and Huntley Road. There is also one that is no longer in use at the North Liverpool delivery office, which came from Breck Road\/ Everton Road and spent part of its life at Copperas Hill.<\/p>\n

Postboxes have been a part of Britain since 1853 and have undergone many changes in colour, design, to shape.<\/p>\n

Andrew Young, the Chair of the Letter Box Study Group, an independent, told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cOne way of looking at the history of postboxes \u2013 which date back to Victorian times \u2013 is as a succession of changes in design.<\/p>\n

\u201cWall boxes and lamp boxes came after the pillar box became established, for instance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe size of postbox apertures vary, and the royal ciphers change with the monarchs.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a new era for the postbox, a new modern design is currently being rolled out across Merseyside, with Royal Mail describing them as the \u201cpostboxes of the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Liverpool Special Postbox was created to deal with the “unique” load of mail that was being posted in Victorian Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane\/Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n

This month, the ECHO reported<\/a> that postboxes across Merseyside have been hollowed out, wrapped in plastic, and temporarily put out of action in areas such as Formby<\/a> and Woolton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The new design features a solar panel, a scanner and a drawer for parcels, and allows customers to send and return small, labelled parcels through a postbox for the first time.<\/p>\n

The design also includes the traditional letter slot.<\/p>\n

3,500 are to be rolled out nationally across the UK and will aim to make sending, returning and collecting parcels more convenient, according to Royal Mail.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the new designs, Andrew said the digital postbox represents a \u201cbig shift\u201d. He said: \u201cIt is just the latest in a long line of modifications.<\/p>\n

\"Postboxes<\/p>\n

Postboxes in Woolton and Formby have been hollowed out in preparation of them being converted into a new design that allows the posting of parcels(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as we know, there are no plans to convert boxes from eras earlier than Elizabeth II, so well-loved older boxes should be unaffected.<\/p>\n

\u201cConversions are taking time to complete, mostly because a box has to lose its door while the work is done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat, in turn, is due to inconsistencies of the original casting process, which means each door has to be matched specifically to its body during manufacture.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe conversions clearly show that Royal Mail recognising that demand for mailing parcels is strong and the letters business is waning.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, the modified boxes still retain an opening for traditional letters to be posted.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The ‘postbox of the future'(Image: Royal Mail)<\/p>\n

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: <\/strong>“Our postboxes of the future offer another convenient way for customers in Merseyside to access Royal Mail’s services, alongside home delivery and collection, our Customer Service Points, Post Office branches, lockers and Royal Mail Shop outlets.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re pleased to see positive feedback from customers in areas where the new postboxes have already been introduced, and we\u2019re hopeful that local residents will find the upgraded postboxes just as useful and convenient.”<\/p>\n

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