Carshalton: postbox № SM5 49, Beeches Avenue

Image: © Chris Downer Taken: 31 Jan 2015

A rather fine example of the Victorian 'Penfold' design, essentially the predecessor to the cylindrical form which has been the norm since the 1870s. The box is one of many across the country which, during the last quarter of 2014, have had alterations made to the collection times as part of the Royal Mail's "Collection on Delivery" scheme. The box is now emptied during the postman's delivery round, hence the (not earlier than) 9am stated on the box for weekdays. Below that, it explains that the nearby box at Queen Mary's Avenue, has a 4pm or later collection; and that the Croydon Mail Centre box has the area's latest weekday time, 7:30pm. The scheme, which is being rolled out nationwide in late 2014/early 2015, affects mainly suburban postboxes which average fewer than 50 items posted per day. The information plates of affected boxes will gradually be updated, as this one already has, giving details of the nearest box with an afternoon weekday collection. The scheme aims to maintain all postboxes in the current network, safeguarding their existence while not being a costly exercise to go round in the evenings collecting from boxes which have very little in them.

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