How can you date a wooden post box?

Wooden antique post boxes mostly date from the late Victorian and Edwardian periods. Check the style of the brass hinges and the type of screws holding them in place. The shape of the slot gives clues too. Later ones tend to be wider to accept bigger envelopes. A maker's label inside the door is your best bet for a firm date.

Who holds the keys for these boxes?

Most original keys vanished decades ago. Country house boxes often have standard lever locks that a traditional locksmith can easily pick and rekey. Cast iron outdoor boxes are more difficult. If the original lock remains, you will need a specialist to create a suitable key.

I have a heavy cast iron post box in my garden, and the front door seems rusted shut, how do I open it?

Cast iron rusts solid when left outside without regular use. The hinge pins and the lock mechanism fuse together over time. Penetrating oil helps, applied daily for a week or more. Tap the edges gently with a wooden mallet to break the seal of the rust without cracking the iron.

The slot on my wooden country house box has a brass plate with a spring, is that standard for Victorian ones?

Spring-loaded brass flaps are standard for indoor examples. They stop dust settling inside. The springs often snap after years of use. Yours is in good order if it still snaps shut tightly.

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Antique Post Boxes

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Antique post boxes range from heavy cast iron street pillars introduced by the Victorians to smaller wooden boxes kept in country house halls for outgoing mail.