Post Box, outside 430 Ormeau Road, Belfast

This is an early twentieth century George V cast-iron post box situated on the pavement edge outside 430 Ormeau Road, Belfast. Erected between 1910 and 1936, it is painted throughout in ‘pillar box red’ with a black base and bears the maker’s name, ‘MC DOWALL STEVEN & CO LTD LONDON & GLASGOW’. The post box is approximately 5 feet high and measures 21 inches in diameter around the cap, 15½ inches around the shaft, and 17 inches around the base. It features a canted steel plate secured by steel straps, a fluted cap, a hinged door with a raised cup handle and keyhole, and a hooded rectangular aperture for letter insertion. Above the aperture is a small holder for a removable plate indicating the next collection day, accompanied by raised lettering ‘NEXT COLLECTION’. Below is a plate holder for collection days/times and the box’s identification number. A ‘GR’ cipher with a raised crown and ‘POST OFFICE’ appear below the plate holder. The box originally stood at the corner of Ormeau Road and Annadale Avenue, being moved to its current location between 1938 and 1955. As it is not in its original location, it has not been considered for listing. Post boxes of this era were historically important as a primary means of communication.