Jersey Post to preserve 'important' post boxes

Some of the post boxes will be put out of service but preserved for their heritage value

Up to 40 post boxes in Jersey will be protected by law after a campaign to save them was launched.

The island was the first place in the British Isles to get post boxes under a pilot scheme launched by novelist Anthony Trollope in 1852.

Jersey Post carried out a review of its post box network in 2013, which led to some being put out of use.

Working with Jersey Heritage, the first three boxes to be listed will be in St Ouen, Grouville and St Helier.

Jersey was the first place in the British Isles to introduce post boxes

Boxes still in use will have highlights painted gold, others will be plain red

The Island's first four post boxes to be opened, in Bath Street, New Street, Elizabeth Place and St Clement's Road, are no longer in use but some survive.

They include pillar, wall and lamp boxes with the mark of five monarchs - Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II - the earliest of these dates from around 1861.

Three listed post boxes

• Victorian wall box at the site of the former sub-post office in Route des Côtils, Grouville

• George V box in the gable wall of Vinchelez de Haut Manor in St Ouen

• George VI box in the boundary wall of the Ommaroo Hotel in Havre des Pas

Director of policy, projects and the historic environment Kevin Pilley said "The first three boxes to be listed demonstrate the charm of these small but important features of Jersey's historic environment."

The boxes being saved that will still be used in future will be painted in red with gold highlights. The boxes protected but decommissioned will be in plain red.