Outcry at 'disappearing' Victorian postbox in Coundon

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It has been hailed as an 'iconic' box - but appears to have vanished



A much-loved post box in Coventry appears to have disappeared into thin air - leaving residents furious.

The post box, situated on Coundon Road, is a local landmark and rare wall post box.

It has been there for nearly 200 years, CoventryLive understands, but appears to have been taken out.

Described as "iconic" by one Coventry resident, all that stands in its place is a bricked up wall.

CoventryLive heard from a Coundon resident who expressed outrage at what they described as Coventry traditions being "wiped out".

But Royal Mail have provided answers to the bizarre incident, explaining just how rare it is for something like this to happen.

A letter from F Roberts published in the Coventry Telegraph letters section on September 22 read: "The Victorian post box on the Coundon Road near Bablake School has disappeared.

"The iconic box, which has been part of Coundon's history and a local landmark for nearly 200 years, has been removed, leaving behind a bricked up wall.

"Are they determined to wipe out all the old traditions we have in Coventry?

"The question is - why was it removed? Where is it now and can it please be reinstated?"

CoventryLive contacted Royal Mail, who own the wall post box, to find out where it had gone.

The postal service revealed that the box had in fact been stolen, and that they are no longer able to replace wall postboxes.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The post box on Coundon Road was stolen in November 2020. The wall was subsequently bricked up to ensure the location was safe.

"We have some 115,000 post boxes around the country and thefts of post boxes are relatively rare. Royal Mail no longer replaces wall post boxes.

"We are looking into opportunities to replace with a different type of post box and will update as soon as we are able. Customers are advised to use nearby post boxes in the area or drop their mail off at the nearest Post Office branch."