St Mary’s Alumna Anne Elliott (1966-1969) is our volunteer college archivist. She has spent many years writing articles for various newsletters and creating displays in College.
We want to share with you a piece Anne wrote in 2023 about a postbox that was located in St Mary’s Fergusson Building and its history.
A nostalgic walk from Prebends Bridge to St Mary’s College could take you past a red pillar box displaying the insignia of Queen Elizabeth II, on Quarryheads Lane opposite the lower entrance to St Mary’s College. Incidentally, pillar boxes were not painted red until 1874; they were originally sage green when introduced in 1855 to Britain by novelist Anthony Trollope.
Our familiar red EIIR postbox was established in 1952.
You climb from Quarryheads Lane up the steps to St Mary’s main building and push open the solid front door, expecting to see a large brown wooden postbox just inside, standing unobtrusively against the stone wall on the right. Instead, it is merely a ghostly outline and a few tiny holes!
“In the Easter Term the Post Office installed a post box and a telephone booth in college, luxuries that seemed almost necessities in the first two terms, when we were without them.”
Like the Dining Hall furniture, it was part of the College’s original furnishings.
In 2012, just before its 60th anniversary, collections were discontinued, apparently saving the College a considerable sum. Then, when the reconstruction of the terrace and drive was nearing completion, the box disappeared.
A sad loss of a traditional amenity! This antique object was a symbol of the pre-digital era when students communicated with home and elsewhere by letters (often written on Sunday afternoons) or phone calls, which involved queuing beside the one telephone up the steps near the Dining Hall. Missing the 5pm collection meant a hasty flight to catch the 5.15pm post on Quarryheads Lane.
Happily, this historic artefact has survived. While awaiting its fate, it was merely stored in the basement until, prompted by the College Archivist, it emerged to be restored and polished to a brilliance. Still useful, now as a secure cupboard for technology equipment, the postbox stands modestly in a corner of Kenworthy Hall. Our exhibit has regained dignity and purpose.
Written by Anne Elliot in 2023
Read more:
For further information, email stmarys.alumni@durham.ac.uk
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/colleges/st-maryx27s-college/Fergusson-3-1022X453.jpg)