Map UK Postboxes

Postboxes (or pillar boxes, wall boxes, and lamp boxes) are a familiar part of the British landscape. They have carried the nation's mail since the 1850s, when the first standard roadside postboxes were introduced under Queen Victoria. Today, thousands of boxes remain in use across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Many are much older than they look: a red pillar box on your high street might date from the reign of George V, Elizabeth II, or even Victoria, and still be in daily use.

Each postbox usually bears the royal cypher of the monarch in reign when it was made — for example VR (Victoria Regina), GR (George Rex), E II R (Elizabeth II Regina), or C III R (Charles III). That cypher is a small piece of history: it tells you when the box was installed and connects the street to a specific era. Enthusiasts and historians use these cyphers to identify and date postboxes, and to understand how the postal network has changed over time.

PostboxMap exists to document these boxes in one place. We provide an interactive map where you can explore postboxes by location and reign, search by cypher or town, and contribute your own finds. Whether you are spotting Victorian Penfold pillars, interwar GR boxes, or the newest Charles III designs, the map helps you see what is already recorded and add what is missing. Our identification guide explains how to recognise cyphers and types; our guide to UK postboxes gives more background on their history and why mapping them matters.