BRADFORD POST OFFICE (1868)
Exchange Rooms, Kirkgate
Photograph © Betty Longbottom via Geograph and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Licence
|
Architect for interior conversion: James Williams Year: 1868 Selected bibliographical references Bradford Observer 13 Feb 1862, p. 4; 3 Sep 1863, p. 4; 1 Nov 1866, p. 4; 2 Jul 1868, p. 5; 11 Dec 1868, p. 4 (correspondence) Leeds Mercury 8 Sep 1868, p. 7 History Opened: 1868 Closed: 1887 |
Building description
From: Leeds Mercury 8 September 1868, p. 7
In a few weeks the Bradford Post-office will be located in a building that will probably meet the postal requirements of the town for many years. The old buildings have long been inadequate, although every endeavour that the circumscribed space would allow has been made by Mr. W. Coates, the Postmaster, to accommodate the public. It was at first proposed to erect a new building in the open apace in front of the Midland Station, but the site was so objectionable in several points of view that the Postmaster-General was successfully urged to select another cite. The old Exchange Buildings, at the corner of Piccadilly and Kirkgate, ware purchased, and, after nine months of labour, have been transformed into a commodious and well arranged Post-office. The building had to be gutted in the interior, and partially reconstructed, entailing heavy labour and considerable expense, but although the transformation has taken a long time, the result is, at all events, satisfactory. The first thing that strikes the eye on entering is the light, airy, and cheerful aspect of the room - 95 feet in length, 28 feet 9 inches wide, and 18 feet 2 inches in height. The money order and savings' bank, the postage stamps, and the private box and registered letter departments are separated from the other portion of the room by a mahogany screen, 6 feet 9 inches to the top. Provision is made for 604 private boxes, and a mahogany counter encircles on three sides a central area of 350 square feet, for the use of the public. The whole fittings in these departments are in mahogany, and appear well adapted for the purposes they are intended to serve. Sorting tables are arranged for eight men in the centre of the room, having two shelves above, in addition to the table, to facilitate the operation. The stamping table has a base of stone covered with India-rubber to deaden the sound, and the sorting tables are covered with kamptulicon. To the left of these, at the back of the room, newspapers are sorted, 88 boxes altogether being provided for this purpose and the tables are fitted so that the bags can be hung in a handy position. We now come into the letter carriers' department, of whom 36 can be accommodated. In a corner close to the private entrance from Piccadilly for the clerks and letter carriers, is an elevated desk where the inspector of letter carriers can overlook the operations of those under his charge. The sorting tables are furnished with moveable seats, and by an ingenious contrivance the gas-piping is carried along the division at the top of the tables, forming a neat finish. All the gas burners are surmounted with broad shades. The fittings here are in polished oak, and every convenience is provided for the men and for the efficient conduct of the business. Over the receiving boxes is a clock by Messrs. Cooke and Sons, of York and London, having two faces, the one face indicating the time to the officials inside the office, and the other face in Piccadilly informing the public of the same fact. It would render this clock more useful on the exterior if it were illuminated nightly. The Postmaster's room, 16 ft. by 12 ft., is at the extreme end, next to Piccadilly. The room is in such a position that he can command, almost at a glance, a view of the whole area where his subordinates are at work. In the upper storey are two waiting rooms, each 18 ft. in height, one to accommodate twenty clerks, and the other for the letter carriers; lavatories are supplied to each, and in the latter an oven and range will serve for cooking purposes. From the Post-office department an easy transition takes us into that portion of the building devoted to the Inland Revenue, a branch of the Government service that has hitherto not been adequately provided for in Bradford. A large cistern, holding 600 gallons, supplies the whole building with water, and can be rendered available in case of fire. The stone exterior, which is very plain in style, had suffered much from the ravages of time, but it has been thoroughly repaired, and pointed a throughout. The alterations have been carried out by Mr. Robert Rowland, of London, the resident clerk of the works, under the superintendence of Mr. James Williams, the Government surveyor, and the works have been executed by Mr. Charles Dalton, of Leeds. The work has been heavy, and although the alterations have certainly been a long time in progress, an inspection of the new Post-office buildings afford convincing proof that the desire has been to do justice to Bradford in regard to postal accommodation, to remove any ground of complaint, and probably to render further outlay unnecessary for some years to come.
From: Leeds Mercury 8 September 1868, p. 7
In a few weeks the Bradford Post-office will be located in a building that will probably meet the postal requirements of the town for many years. The old buildings have long been inadequate, although every endeavour that the circumscribed space would allow has been made by Mr. W. Coates, the Postmaster, to accommodate the public. It was at first proposed to erect a new building in the open apace in front of the Midland Station, but the site was so objectionable in several points of view that the Postmaster-General was successfully urged to select another cite. The old Exchange Buildings, at the corner of Piccadilly and Kirkgate, ware purchased, and, after nine months of labour, have been transformed into a commodious and well arranged Post-office. The building had to be gutted in the interior, and partially reconstructed, entailing heavy labour and considerable expense, but although the transformation has taken a long time, the result is, at all events, satisfactory. The first thing that strikes the eye on entering is the light, airy, and cheerful aspect of the room - 95 feet in length, 28 feet 9 inches wide, and 18 feet 2 inches in height. The money order and savings' bank, the postage stamps, and the private box and registered letter departments are separated from the other portion of the room by a mahogany screen, 6 feet 9 inches to the top. Provision is made for 604 private boxes, and a mahogany counter encircles on three sides a central area of 350 square feet, for the use of the public. The whole fittings in these departments are in mahogany, and appear well adapted for the purposes they are intended to serve. Sorting tables are arranged for eight men in the centre of the room, having two shelves above, in addition to the table, to facilitate the operation. The stamping table has a base of stone covered with India-rubber to deaden the sound, and the sorting tables are covered with kamptulicon. To the left of these, at the back of the room, newspapers are sorted, 88 boxes altogether being provided for this purpose and the tables are fitted so that the bags can be hung in a handy position. We now come into the letter carriers' department, of whom 36 can be accommodated. In a corner close to the private entrance from Piccadilly for the clerks and letter carriers, is an elevated desk where the inspector of letter carriers can overlook the operations of those under his charge. The sorting tables are furnished with moveable seats, and by an ingenious contrivance the gas-piping is carried along the division at the top of the tables, forming a neat finish. All the gas burners are surmounted with broad shades. The fittings here are in polished oak, and every convenience is provided for the men and for the efficient conduct of the business. Over the receiving boxes is a clock by Messrs. Cooke and Sons, of York and London, having two faces, the one face indicating the time to the officials inside the office, and the other face in Piccadilly informing the public of the same fact. It would render this clock more useful on the exterior if it were illuminated nightly. The Postmaster's room, 16 ft. by 12 ft., is at the extreme end, next to Piccadilly. The room is in such a position that he can command, almost at a glance, a view of the whole area where his subordinates are at work. In the upper storey are two waiting rooms, each 18 ft. in height, one to accommodate twenty clerks, and the other for the letter carriers; lavatories are supplied to each, and in the latter an oven and range will serve for cooking purposes. From the Post-office department an easy transition takes us into that portion of the building devoted to the Inland Revenue, a branch of the Government service that has hitherto not been adequately provided for in Bradford. A large cistern, holding 600 gallons, supplies the whole building with water, and can be rendered available in case of fire. The stone exterior, which is very plain in style, had suffered much from the ravages of time, but it has been thoroughly repaired, and pointed a throughout. The alterations have been carried out by Mr. Robert Rowland, of London, the resident clerk of the works, under the superintendence of Mr. James Williams, the Government surveyor, and the works have been executed by Mr. Charles Dalton, of Leeds. The work has been heavy, and although the alterations have certainly been a long time in progress, an inspection of the new Post-office buildings afford convincing proof that the desire has been to do justice to Bradford in regard to postal accommodation, to remove any ground of complaint, and probably to render further outlay unnecessary for some years to come.
