Postbox created especially for Liverpool that’s the last of its kind

Thousands of people walk past it every year without realising its history

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.

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.

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.

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.

A plaque on the front of the Albert Dock Liverpool Special reads: “This 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.”

It is unclear where all seven boxes were, but records show that six were initially located across Liverpool including outside Lime Street Station by St George’s Hall, 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.

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.

Postboxes have been a part of Britain since 1853 and have undergone many changes in colour, design, to shape.

Andrew Young, the Chair of the Letter Box Study Group, an independent, told the ECHO: “One way of looking at the history of postboxes – which date back to Victorian times – is as a succession of changes in design.

“Wall boxes and lamp boxes came after the pillar box became established, for instance.

“The size of postbox apertures vary, and the royal ciphers change with the monarchs.”

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 “postboxes of the future”.

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

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.

The design also includes the traditional letter slot.

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.

Speaking about the new designs, Andrew said the digital postbox represents a “big shift”. He said: “It is just the latest in a long line of modifications.

“As 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.

“Conversions are taking time to complete, mostly because a box has to lose its door while the work is done.

“That, 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.

“The conversions clearly show that Royal Mail recognising that demand for mailing parcels is strong and the letters business is waning.

“However, the modified boxes still retain an opening for traditional letters to be posted.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “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.

“We’re pleased to see positive feedback from customers in areas where the new postboxes have already been introduced, and we’re hopeful that local residents will find the upgraded postboxes just as useful and convenient.”

Ensure our latest news and what’s on headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a preferred source. Click here to activate or add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings.

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter.

Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @liverpoolecho.co.uk – official Liverpool ECHO accounts – real news in real time.