Red-letter day as enthusiasts think inside the box

FROM cast-iron models first built in the 1850s, to ones you can fit in the palm of your hand, hundreds of letterbox enthusiasts from across the country got the first class treatment in Harrogate.

By The Newsroom

Published 26th Mar 2012, 11:19 BST

The Letter Box Study Group, which was founded in 1976 and is working to record all 116,000 letterboxes in the country, held its tri-annual conference in the spa town over the weekend.

About 550 members attended the event, with numerous historic letterboxes wheeled out to go on show, including a Penfold model first used in 1866, crowned with an acanthus leaf which is the symbol of the group.

Helen Crabtree, publicity officer for the group, which is recognised as the definitive authority on the British letterbox, said: “It was great and some of the older letterboxes that were on display were just lovely.

“Our members come from all backgrounds and although the average age is around 60, we do have some young blood coming through at the moment.

“But we are always on the look-out for new members.”

Harrogate