Editing Pillar box (section)

===Pre-history===

Before the introduction of pillar boxes, in the UK, it was customary to take outgoing mail to the nearest letter-receiving house or [[post office]]. Such houses were usually [[coaching inn]]s or [[Turnpike trust|turnpike]] houses where the Royal Mail coach would stop to pick up and set down mails and passengers. People took their letters, in person, to the receiver, or [[postmaster]], purchased a stamp (after 1840) and handed over the letter.