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Date: n.d. Type: Post Box Status: Extant Street: Somerset St   Click to view large map Coordinates: 33°18'27.44" S 26°31'02.78" E

See more photographs Proclaimed: 1989 03 17 Pillar Post Box, Northwest corner of Worcester/ Somerset Streets, Grahamstown This pillar post box, as situated above, belongs to one of the earliest documented British made post boxes, the fluted type supplied in 1857. This was one of 19 distinct types of pillar boxes known to have been supplied to the British post office in the period 1852 to 1859, i.e. before the first National Standard pillar box became available in 1859. As only 5 of this fluted type are known to survive in Britain itself, this is indeed a very rare 'piece' of postal history. The evidence which exists that 4 boxes of the type were erected in 1860 and that they were made by Smith & Hawkes of Birmingham, is strong suggestion that both these details could apply to Grahamstown's 'survivor'. It is missing the royal cipher which fell victim to republican enthusiasm after 1961. And though still in the same position as stated above, the soil level has risen around it to nearly cover the plinth. Ref: Extracted from Report for the National Monuments Council, compiled by Dr. C Hummel on behalf of the Grahamstown Historical and Philatelic Societies, 18 April 1986. Copy of Report provided by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (2012) Submitted by William MARTINSON