Rare red post box in Glasgow gets listed building status

A rare red post box on the southside of Glasgow has been given listed building status.

The Edward VIII post box on Nithsdale Road is now classed as a listed building. PIC: www.geograph.co.uk.

The pillar box on Nithsdale Drive was made in 1936 during the short reign of Edward VIII, who served for just 325 days before abdicating the throne to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson.

While post boxes were changed to reflect the coronation of his brother, George VI, the doors to the pillar boxes which carry the George VIII cipher were never altered.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said the Nithsdale Drive example was a “rare survival” of its kind.

It is now one of 10 in Scotland to have Category B listed building status.

A statement said: “Like the K6 telephone boxes, letter boxes are an iconic piece of street furniture in Scotland and the United Kingdom and are recognised internationally.

“While post boxes are not rare, this example in Nithsdale Drive is considered to be a rare survival of a post box that had a limited term of production and is significant for its association to notable historical event in British modern history.”

The pillar box was made by The Carron Company near Falkirk, Stirlingshire, which became one of the largest iron works in Europe during the 19th century.

A total of 271 letter boxes were made in 1936 to mark the reign of Edward VIII, of which 161 were of the pillar box type.

Of the 10 Edward VIII pillar boxes now listed in Scotland, four of them can be found in Glasgow.

The pouch to the right of the Nithsdale Drive box is not included in the listing.

Niall Murphy, chairman of Pollokshields Heritage, said: “People will be pleased to see this listed. People in the area tend to value their heritage. We appreciate the gesture of Historic Environment Scotland.”