Pillar Box outside 81 Ninian Road

Cadw's description

Location

At the junction of Ninian Road and Morlais Street and now partly incorporated into the trunk of a mature tree.

History

Residential development in the northern area of Roath occurred in the period 1890-1914. The Marquess of Bute had donated land around Roath Brook for a public park in 1887, beginning an overall strategy for development of a high-quality residential district, to which the setting of Roath Park was instrumental. Houses on the S side of Roath Park Pleasure Gardens were built in the period 1897-1907 and the pillar box was an integral component of the development, probably erected before 1901. The founders name is no longer legible as the base is concealed by raising of the footway, but it is of the standard type introduced by the Post Office in 1887.

Exterior

A cylindrical cast iron pillar box painted red with base concealed. The hinged door bears the embossed royal cipher 'VR'. Above it is the horizontal posting aperture flanked by 'Post Office' in relief. The box has a projecting shallow domed cap with fluted cornice.

Reason for designation

Listed as a rare surviving Victorian pillar box, and for its contribution to the historic character of Ninan Road.