THE architect behind two of County Durham’s rare ‘Penfold’ post boxes has been recognised as one of the most influential surveyors of the past 150 years.
Born in Surrey, 190 years ago, John Wornham Penfold was a founding member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
His design for the British hexagonal post box, adorned with acanthus leaves, balls and the monarch’s royal coat of arms, was commissioned by the Post Office in 1866 and created a national standard for letter boxes.
The two post boxes in County Durham, are near Cosin’s Hall, at Palace Green, in Durham, and on the site of Beamish Museum.
Only 20 of the earliest designs of Penfolds exist in the whole of the UK, and these are now classed as Grade II listed buildings.
The admiration of Penfold’s post-box design was characterised in the well-known Danger Mouse cartoon series.
Sean Tompkins, chief executive of the RICS, said: “John Wornham Penfold’s work as a leading surveyor of his time, his contribution to the RICS and the historic design of the Penfold box stand him out as a great surveyor worthy of recognition.”
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