Accompanying the Mail Coach is the London Ornate pillar box (1857-1859), which was designed in collaboration with the Government’s Department of Science and Art in an attempt to make pillar boxes more attractive. They were made a foot shorter than earlier boxes and were first introduced in London but were also sent to Dublin, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester. Fifty of these boxes were produced. The earliest versions of these boxes incorporated a ceramic compass on top.

The original design failed to include an aperture so this was added later in the cap. However it was soon realised that rain water entered the box so a liftable flap was added.

Expensive to manufacture, an economy version of this box was produced without all the elaborate mouldings for use outside the major cities.