Is This The Oldest Postbox In Town ?

Not had the time or inclination to check the emails of late, that sounds terrible but it's more to do with not being up to it than can't be bothered.

Anyway... there has been a few good ones come in, and this one from Philip Ward get my interest. 

Over to Phil:

"I have been enjoying your Hydonian blog for several years.  At last I thought I would send an entry to see if it gets posted.

 I have attached two photos of a post box, which I have walked past many times over the years.   But just not any old post box, perhaps. 

On every post box in the UK, the Royal Cipher can be seen relating the reigning monarch at the time of the installation.  It is made up of the Christian (first) name of the King or Queen together with the letter R which stands for Regina (Queen) or Rex (King).

This particular post box is located at the junction of Clarendon Road and Commercial Brow.  The royal cipher on the front of the post box is “GR” (George Rex) – which would relate to King George the Sixth.  Therefore this post box would have been installed during his reign of 1936 to 1952 – probably towards the latter part of his reign maybe?   So the post box is at least 62 years old.  I cannot recall seeing any other post boxes with such a crest anywhere else.  All other post boxes seem to carry the royal cipher “EiiR” (Elizabeth Regina) for Queen Elizabeth the Second (1952 - present day).

I would guess this is probably the oldest post box in Hyde - if not Tameside!"

Merry Christmas 2012

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH OUR READERS A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

~xx Thank you for your continued support  xx~

Post Office Building

The following are two photos of the Post Office Building on Corporation Street. 

Whilst it isn't used as a Post Office anymore I'm glad to see that it has survived demolition, which was the fate of so many buildings in this area , when the Asda store was built.

It is a beautiful red brick building, like so many others in Hyde such as the Library and Hyde Grammar School, or Clarendon 6th form college as it is now known.

The Post Office was built in 1899 and is now, I believe,  an early learning centre.

The chimneys have been taken down or lowered but little else has changed.

Many thanks as always to Susan Jaleel for the photos above.

Dave took the pictures below last year  

Excellent pictures as always Dave... thank you.

Gee Cross Post Office

This would have been the hub of the village at one time. It disappeared a few years ago when cuts were made in the Postal Service. Sadly missed.


Gee Cross Post Office, Stockport Road, Gee Cross. Circa 1900


Circa 1955
Not a lot has changed except the removal of the small wall at the front and the addition of the postbox.

The 4 views above have been taken for us by Dave Williams today after reading the post... he as very kindly cropped them to be a close a copy of the older ones and I think he has done a sterling job for us.

Two more off 'Hydonian's Resident Photographer',  Dave Williams... just on the off chance here.. can anyone tell us what the Blue Diamond with the 'V' stands for... ?