Heritage post box trail

Guernsey’s post boxes reflect the island’s evolving postal history, beginning with the introduction of pillar boxes in 1853 after trials inspired by Anthony Trollope’s who was working as a Surveyor's Clerk for the Post Office after his observations in Europe of roadside letter boxes and recoginsed their potential value to the postal systems of the British Isles.

A small trial was approved in 1852 in the Channel Islands. Four cast-iron pillar boxes were installed in Jersey, followed in February 1853 by six in Guernsey. The Guernsey boxes were placed at Union Street (Number 1), Hauteville (Number 2) and The Piette (Number 3), with the remaining three located elsewhere on the island. Each box was cast in Jersey at a cost of £7 and emptied every morning, except Sundays, to ensure mail could reach London the same day.

Guernsey Post are introducing heritage plates on a number of closed post boxes across the island, helping to preserve their stories and recognise their place in Guernsey’s history. A total of 27 heritage plates are being installed on post boxes that are no longer in service but remain an important part of Guernsey’s everyday surroundings and shared stories. While the iconic post boxes themselves will remain blue, reflecting their historic appearance, the newly installed heritage plates are brown, clearly identifying them as part of a growing heritage trail.

Guernsey Post is committed to keeping the Island’s iconic blue post boxes in place, recognising the important role they continue to play as familiar and valued features of Island life. By sharing the stories connected to these locations, the initiative ensures that their historical and cultural significance is not lost.

Explore all the post boxes featured on this heritage trail below. Click on any box to discover its history.

Post box No. 2, Upland Road
Post box No. 3, Rouge Huis Avenue
Post box No. 5, Hauteville
Post box No. 9, Cambridge Park
Post box No. 10, Piette Road
Post box No. 13, Victoria Road
Post box No. 18, Fermain
Post box No. 21, Kings Mills
Post box No. 36, Vauvert
Post box No. 43, Les Ozouets
Post box No. 44, Le Bordage
Post box No. 45, Landes du Marche
Post box No. 50, Delancey
Post box No. 52, Moulin Huet
Post box No. 54, Mont Saint
Post box No. 58, La Rue de la Vrangue
Post box No. 71, Route de Pleimont
Post box No. 84, Sandy Hook
Post box No. 85, Les Bailleuls
Post box No. 89, Fort Road
Post box No. 104, Orange Ville
Post box No. 105, Queens Road
Post box No. 114, Mon Plasir
Post box No. 124, Grand Fort
Post box No. 132 Victoria Avenue
Post box No. 135, Mill Street
Post box No. 158, St Pierre Park Hotel