DUNDEE POST OFFICE (1862)
Meadowside/Euclid Crescent
Postcard view
Reproduced with permission of 'Libraries, Leisure and Culture Dundee'
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Architect: Robert Matheson Year: 1862 Archive sources Photopolis: Old Dundee in Photographs: WC0373, WC1229, WC1761, Selected bibliographical references Dundee Advertiser 23 May 1862, p. 4 History Opened: 23 May 1862 Demolished |
Building description
From: Dundee Advertiser 23 May 1862, p. 4
This morning the New Post-Office Buildings, opposite the north-west corner of Reform Street, will be opened for the transaction of the postal business of the town. The change from the old cells—for they were no better—under the Town House, which have been occupied for about twelve years as a Post-Office, to these commodious and well-arranged premises, has not been made a moment too soon ; for the accommodation provided for the transaction of the business of this important branch of the public service has hitherto been such as would have disgraced a town of much smaller size, and requiring much less facilities for conducting its affairs, than Dundee. The postal business has, indeed, been conducted with the most exemplary attention and regularity by Mr Gibb and his assistants, and this has tended greatly to lessen the inconvenience to which business men and others have been liable from the insufficiency of the premises; but now that this great drawback has been removed, we have doubt that the regulation of the Post-Office will continue to be all that could be desired, and that every possible facility will he given for communication with other towns. The building having been erected with special adaptation to its purpose, the arrangements are necessarily complete and ample for the transaction of Post Office business. Entrance to the public rooms is gained by a large triple porch or open lobby, forming the middle part of the ground-floor, and fronting in the direction of Reform Street, and which will be closed after hours iron. On the left side are double folding doors, which lead into the principal public-room, which the usual business of a Post- Office—the selling of stamps, delivery of private box letters, affording information as to mails, &c— will he transacted. Immediately at the back of this, and occupying by far the larger part of the ground-floor, is the sorting-room, a very spacious, well lighted room, furnished with every convenience for carrying the work of despatch and delivery. Here are long desks and sorting-tables for the convenience sorters and deliverers, and numerous pigeon holed frames are set up in different parts of the room, which the letters for the different mails—south, north, etc. —may be placed after arranging and before despatch. Two tables, with india-rubber tops, are provided for stamping letters. At one corner of the room are letter and paper slits, which lead from the lobby. On the right side of this lobby is another public-room—smaller than the companion one to the left—in which the Money-Order and Savings' Bank business will conducted ; while at the back of this is the Post-Master's private room, which also has communication with the different parts of the building. The upper flat and the attics are entirely set apart for the residence of the Post-Master. There is but one objection taken to this building, but that is a serious one. It is that the style of the exterior is so entirely dissimilar from that of all the surrounding buildings destroy all harmony or congruity in the architecture the street. It to regretted, as we have before stated, that the Post Office had not heen built so as to form an apparent continuation of the west side of Reform Street. Had that been done, and had the adjoining stances, now occupied by unsightly wooden sheds, been similarly filled up, the facade of Reform Street would have been as elegant and sightly as any Parisian rue or London street. Now, however, that the building has been finished, such regrets are vain ; and in the circumstances we can do nothing more than say that we are pleased that a building of proportions so handsome as this, and affording to the public accommodation so ample, has heen erected in Dundee.
From: Dundee Advertiser 23 May 1862, p. 4
This morning the New Post-Office Buildings, opposite the north-west corner of Reform Street, will be opened for the transaction of the postal business of the town. The change from the old cells—for they were no better—under the Town House, which have been occupied for about twelve years as a Post-Office, to these commodious and well-arranged premises, has not been made a moment too soon ; for the accommodation provided for the transaction of the business of this important branch of the public service has hitherto been such as would have disgraced a town of much smaller size, and requiring much less facilities for conducting its affairs, than Dundee. The postal business has, indeed, been conducted with the most exemplary attention and regularity by Mr Gibb and his assistants, and this has tended greatly to lessen the inconvenience to which business men and others have been liable from the insufficiency of the premises; but now that this great drawback has been removed, we have doubt that the regulation of the Post-Office will continue to be all that could be desired, and that every possible facility will he given for communication with other towns. The building having been erected with special adaptation to its purpose, the arrangements are necessarily complete and ample for the transaction of Post Office business. Entrance to the public rooms is gained by a large triple porch or open lobby, forming the middle part of the ground-floor, and fronting in the direction of Reform Street, and which will be closed after hours iron. On the left side are double folding doors, which lead into the principal public-room, which the usual business of a Post- Office—the selling of stamps, delivery of private box letters, affording information as to mails, &c— will he transacted. Immediately at the back of this, and occupying by far the larger part of the ground-floor, is the sorting-room, a very spacious, well lighted room, furnished with every convenience for carrying the work of despatch and delivery. Here are long desks and sorting-tables for the convenience sorters and deliverers, and numerous pigeon holed frames are set up in different parts of the room, which the letters for the different mails—south, north, etc. —may be placed after arranging and before despatch. Two tables, with india-rubber tops, are provided for stamping letters. At one corner of the room are letter and paper slits, which lead from the lobby. On the right side of this lobby is another public-room—smaller than the companion one to the left—in which the Money-Order and Savings' Bank business will conducted ; while at the back of this is the Post-Master's private room, which also has communication with the different parts of the building. The upper flat and the attics are entirely set apart for the residence of the Post-Master. There is but one objection taken to this building, but that is a serious one. It is that the style of the exterior is so entirely dissimilar from that of all the surrounding buildings destroy all harmony or congruity in the architecture the street. It to regretted, as we have before stated, that the Post Office had not heen built so as to form an apparent continuation of the west side of Reform Street. Had that been done, and had the adjoining stances, now occupied by unsightly wooden sheds, been similarly filled up, the facade of Reform Street would have been as elegant and sightly as any Parisian rue or London street. Now, however, that the building has been finished, such regrets are vain ; and in the circumstances we can do nothing more than say that we are pleased that a building of proportions so handsome as this, and affording to the public accommodation so ample, has heen erected in Dundee.
