BIRMINGHAM POST OFFICE (1873)
Paradise Street
Architect: James Williams
Year: 1873
Selected bibliographical references
Birmingham Daily Post 8 February 1872, p. 5; 26 Sep 1873, p. 5
Building News 8 Feb 1872, p. 5; 3 Oct 1873, p. 381
History
Opened: 28 Sep 1873
Closed:?1890
Demolished
Previously the post office was located at New Street (from 1842)
Year: 1873
Selected bibliographical references
Birmingham Daily Post 8 February 1872, p. 5; 26 Sep 1873, p. 5
Building News 8 Feb 1872, p. 5; 3 Oct 1873, p. 381
History
Opened: 28 Sep 1873
Closed:?1890
Demolished
Previously the post office was located at New Street (from 1842)
Building description
From: Birmingham Daily Post 26 September 1873, p, 5
For a considerable period that hardly-worked body of men, the postal officials in Birmingham, have had to endure inconveniences and hardships innumerable, arising from the unsuitability and limited accommodation of the building in which the postal business of this town has for several years been conducted. The general public also hre experienced in no limited degree inconveniences, and no doubt have wondered why steps have not sooner been taken to remedy such a state of affairs. It is true they have done the best that lay in their power to urge forward measures for ensuring the prompt and easy conduct of the duties of the Post Office, by complaining, through the press and by letters, to the heads of departments. They found, however, that the authorities of this branch of the Civil Service were not easily moved to action, and for some time they complained in vain. Now, however, these said authorities have condescended to take notice of the wants of Birmingham, and in a few days the new Post Office in Paradise Street will be thrown open, when we may hope to have postal business transacted here with something like comfort and ease. That the new building has not been erected before it was required anyone who has visited the existing Post Office in New Street can testify. There the rooms are small, inconvenient, badly lighted, worse ventilated, and, above all, so low in the ceiling that a proper supply of fresh air is next door to an impossibility. In the summer months the sorting room, in which many men were employed, became so foul of air as to render employment in it for any length of time positively injurious to health; and when at night the place was lighted by scores of gas jets, the heat became so unbearable that a salamander might have been excused declining such quarters. From this consumption manufactory, an exodus of the letter-sorters, stampers, and carriers will take place on Saturday night; and far front sorry will they be to finally take leave of such a work-room. It will be unnecessary to remind the public of the contracted space allotted to the sale of stamps, the reception of registered letters, &c., at the old establishment, as these things must be well known. Suffice it to say, that at the new Post Office all these unpleasantness will be remedied, and this building we will accordingly proceed to describe. As most people know, it stands at the corner of Hill Street and Paradise Street, directly facing the Town Hall. The buildings extend as far down Hill Street as Swallow Street, from which latter thoroughfare the officials will enter the building when proceeding to their duties. The basement of the building is composed of blocks of Cornish granite of immense size, a great air of solidity and stability being thereby imparted. Gazing at the building proper, one is again impressed with its massive and heavy appearance, the material employed being Bath stone in large solid blocks. Of the style of architecture one may well be excused for being dubious, but at any rate the design is classical - boldly classical. As regards ornamentation, there is enough to suit the most ardent advocate thereof. Scarcely a foot of the exterior is left plain. Grooves perpendicular and grooves horizontal abound, spreading over the front and sides of the building after the manner and design of those mysterious productions - genealogical trees. Corner stones, are chiseled out into lines of grooves in a most elaborate style, while, to give an air of finish to the affair bands of Grecian fretwork run around the building at intervals. Above the windows are intricate specimens of the stonecutters' art known as guilloch enrichments, while richly-moulded consoles adorn either side of the windlow cornices. The building is surmounted by a massive cornice, which projects for the somewhat extraordinary distance of 3 feet 10 inches, while the whole is surmounted by a heavy ornamental stone balustrade. Notwithstanding this elaboration of adornment, it must be confessed that the new building is not particularly imposing in aspect. Probably this in a measure arises from its proximity to that triumph of architectural skill - the Town Hall. In short, at present, in its new and fresh state, it is far too heavy and solid in aspect, and, when the brightness of the stone becomes obscured by the smoke of the town, these characteristics will be intensified. Respecting the interior of the building, however, it must be said that every appliance for the proper conduct of the postal business has been furnished, and the office is complete in its way. The main entrance is from Paradise Street, and the visitor first enters a lobby. By a couple of large glass doors admission is obtained to what may be called the chief public room of the building -viz., that in which the stamp, post office order, telegraph, and registered letter business will be transacted. This room is l0ft, well lighted, and admirably ventilated. The ceiling is plain, but a highly-ornamental cornice runs round the room, consisting of a band of Grecian fretwork, a dental course, and a moulded soffit, surmounted by guilloch enrichment. The floor is of stone slabs. A counter of horseshoe shape has been fitted up for the various kinds of business which will be carried on in the room. On the right hand side telegraph messsages will be received, a smaller counter divided into compartments by fluted-glass panels, being fixed against the wall for the convenience of persons wishing to write their messages. Also on this side of the room is a space allotted to the sale of stamps, while further back is a small counter over which registered letters must be handed. Facing the centre of the main counter are arranged the private boxes of firms and companies, and here application must be made for the letters. On the left hand, or Hill Street side of the room, the counter will be given up to the transaction of the Money Order and Savings Bank business. It will be well to mention here that as soon as the new office is open nothing but telegraphic messages will be received at the office in Cannon Street. All the messages handed in at the new office will be despatched to Cannon Street, with a pneumatic tube, for transmission. Leaving the general office and passing through a large glass door at the back, we enter the stamping and sorting room. In strong contrast to the miserable apartment devoted to this branch of postal work at the old office, this room is one of the lightest and airiest that could well be imagined. Its dimensions are 100 feet by 45 feet, and it is 30 feet high. The roof is of iron, while a lantern light runs the entire length, with side fanlights for ventilation. In addition, there are seven large windows in the side of the room, a fanlight being above each, by means of which also additional ventilation can be secured. At the upper end of the room are large tables for the reception of letters as they are emptied from the mail bags, and here also the stamping operations will be conducted. Along the sides of the room are shelves and pigeon-holes for the reception of newspapers, parcels, etc.; while the letter sorting will be performed on elegant and convenient stands running along the room. Moving down towards Swallow Street, we come across four long rows of desks, divided into compartments by wire trellice-work, and fitted with ingenious seats, which work on iron swivels, and when not in use can be moved under the desks. Here the letter- carriers will conduct their "making up", or final sorting, previous to starting on their rounds. At the end of this room is a small compartment, partitioned off by a glass screen, wherein will preside the inspector of letter- carriers, who also will take charge of registered letters, previous to their being delivered to the carriers. When "made up" at the upper end of the room, the mail bags will be moved down on trolleys, past the carriers' desks, to the Swallow Street end, where they will be slidden down a large shoot into the mail carts, which will be in waiting in Swallow Street. Beneath the general office and sorting room are a series of rooms devoted to the use of the clerks and letter-carriers when off duty. Each room is fitted up with a number of small cupboards, in which the men may place their clothing or provisions, and commodious lavatories are attached. Here, also, are store rooms, and rooms for the occupation of the office keeper. In every instance the fittings are of the neatest and most serviceable kind, while grates and ovens for cooking are provided, and other appliances at hand for securing the comfort and convenience of the employees. Above the general office, and fronting Paradise Street, are three commodious rooms devoted to the postmaster, the clerks, and the accountants of the establishment, while at the back are similar apartments for the telegraph engineer and his staff. It had been arranged that the new office should be opened for the transaction of business this day, but the fittings had not been completed and the postnanater found that by taking up occupation too soon his work might be seriously impeded. Accordingly, possession will be taken late on Saturday night, and on Sunday, for the first time for many years, it is to be hoped the officials will conduct their operations in comfort. There is one matter in connection with the new office which should be specially mentioned. Thee extra room provided will undoubtedly allow of the present amount of business being conducted easily and well. Such, however, will not he the case in the course of a few years, if the work of the department increases in the same ratio as it has done for several years past. The new Post Office is apparently substantially enough built to last long after the business has increased sufficiently to demand a building twice the size. Mr. Williams of her Majesty's Office of Works, prepared the design for the new building; Messrs. Parnell and Son, of Rugby, are the builders, and have also carried out the fittings ; and Mr. George Reavell has officiated as clerk of the works.
From: Birmingham Daily Post 26 September 1873, p, 5
For a considerable period that hardly-worked body of men, the postal officials in Birmingham, have had to endure inconveniences and hardships innumerable, arising from the unsuitability and limited accommodation of the building in which the postal business of this town has for several years been conducted. The general public also hre experienced in no limited degree inconveniences, and no doubt have wondered why steps have not sooner been taken to remedy such a state of affairs. It is true they have done the best that lay in their power to urge forward measures for ensuring the prompt and easy conduct of the duties of the Post Office, by complaining, through the press and by letters, to the heads of departments. They found, however, that the authorities of this branch of the Civil Service were not easily moved to action, and for some time they complained in vain. Now, however, these said authorities have condescended to take notice of the wants of Birmingham, and in a few days the new Post Office in Paradise Street will be thrown open, when we may hope to have postal business transacted here with something like comfort and ease. That the new building has not been erected before it was required anyone who has visited the existing Post Office in New Street can testify. There the rooms are small, inconvenient, badly lighted, worse ventilated, and, above all, so low in the ceiling that a proper supply of fresh air is next door to an impossibility. In the summer months the sorting room, in which many men were employed, became so foul of air as to render employment in it for any length of time positively injurious to health; and when at night the place was lighted by scores of gas jets, the heat became so unbearable that a salamander might have been excused declining such quarters. From this consumption manufactory, an exodus of the letter-sorters, stampers, and carriers will take place on Saturday night; and far front sorry will they be to finally take leave of such a work-room. It will be unnecessary to remind the public of the contracted space allotted to the sale of stamps, the reception of registered letters, &c., at the old establishment, as these things must be well known. Suffice it to say, that at the new Post Office all these unpleasantness will be remedied, and this building we will accordingly proceed to describe. As most people know, it stands at the corner of Hill Street and Paradise Street, directly facing the Town Hall. The buildings extend as far down Hill Street as Swallow Street, from which latter thoroughfare the officials will enter the building when proceeding to their duties. The basement of the building is composed of blocks of Cornish granite of immense size, a great air of solidity and stability being thereby imparted. Gazing at the building proper, one is again impressed with its massive and heavy appearance, the material employed being Bath stone in large solid blocks. Of the style of architecture one may well be excused for being dubious, but at any rate the design is classical - boldly classical. As regards ornamentation, there is enough to suit the most ardent advocate thereof. Scarcely a foot of the exterior is left plain. Grooves perpendicular and grooves horizontal abound, spreading over the front and sides of the building after the manner and design of those mysterious productions - genealogical trees. Corner stones, are chiseled out into lines of grooves in a most elaborate style, while, to give an air of finish to the affair bands of Grecian fretwork run around the building at intervals. Above the windows are intricate specimens of the stonecutters' art known as guilloch enrichments, while richly-moulded consoles adorn either side of the windlow cornices. The building is surmounted by a massive cornice, which projects for the somewhat extraordinary distance of 3 feet 10 inches, while the whole is surmounted by a heavy ornamental stone balustrade. Notwithstanding this elaboration of adornment, it must be confessed that the new building is not particularly imposing in aspect. Probably this in a measure arises from its proximity to that triumph of architectural skill - the Town Hall. In short, at present, in its new and fresh state, it is far too heavy and solid in aspect, and, when the brightness of the stone becomes obscured by the smoke of the town, these characteristics will be intensified. Respecting the interior of the building, however, it must be said that every appliance for the proper conduct of the postal business has been furnished, and the office is complete in its way. The main entrance is from Paradise Street, and the visitor first enters a lobby. By a couple of large glass doors admission is obtained to what may be called the chief public room of the building -viz., that in which the stamp, post office order, telegraph, and registered letter business will be transacted. This room is l0ft, well lighted, and admirably ventilated. The ceiling is plain, but a highly-ornamental cornice runs round the room, consisting of a band of Grecian fretwork, a dental course, and a moulded soffit, surmounted by guilloch enrichment. The floor is of stone slabs. A counter of horseshoe shape has been fitted up for the various kinds of business which will be carried on in the room. On the right hand side telegraph messsages will be received, a smaller counter divided into compartments by fluted-glass panels, being fixed against the wall for the convenience of persons wishing to write their messages. Also on this side of the room is a space allotted to the sale of stamps, while further back is a small counter over which registered letters must be handed. Facing the centre of the main counter are arranged the private boxes of firms and companies, and here application must be made for the letters. On the left hand, or Hill Street side of the room, the counter will be given up to the transaction of the Money Order and Savings Bank business. It will be well to mention here that as soon as the new office is open nothing but telegraphic messages will be received at the office in Cannon Street. All the messages handed in at the new office will be despatched to Cannon Street, with a pneumatic tube, for transmission. Leaving the general office and passing through a large glass door at the back, we enter the stamping and sorting room. In strong contrast to the miserable apartment devoted to this branch of postal work at the old office, this room is one of the lightest and airiest that could well be imagined. Its dimensions are 100 feet by 45 feet, and it is 30 feet high. The roof is of iron, while a lantern light runs the entire length, with side fanlights for ventilation. In addition, there are seven large windows in the side of the room, a fanlight being above each, by means of which also additional ventilation can be secured. At the upper end of the room are large tables for the reception of letters as they are emptied from the mail bags, and here also the stamping operations will be conducted. Along the sides of the room are shelves and pigeon-holes for the reception of newspapers, parcels, etc.; while the letter sorting will be performed on elegant and convenient stands running along the room. Moving down towards Swallow Street, we come across four long rows of desks, divided into compartments by wire trellice-work, and fitted with ingenious seats, which work on iron swivels, and when not in use can be moved under the desks. Here the letter- carriers will conduct their "making up", or final sorting, previous to starting on their rounds. At the end of this room is a small compartment, partitioned off by a glass screen, wherein will preside the inspector of letter- carriers, who also will take charge of registered letters, previous to their being delivered to the carriers. When "made up" at the upper end of the room, the mail bags will be moved down on trolleys, past the carriers' desks, to the Swallow Street end, where they will be slidden down a large shoot into the mail carts, which will be in waiting in Swallow Street. Beneath the general office and sorting room are a series of rooms devoted to the use of the clerks and letter-carriers when off duty. Each room is fitted up with a number of small cupboards, in which the men may place their clothing or provisions, and commodious lavatories are attached. Here, also, are store rooms, and rooms for the occupation of the office keeper. In every instance the fittings are of the neatest and most serviceable kind, while grates and ovens for cooking are provided, and other appliances at hand for securing the comfort and convenience of the employees. Above the general office, and fronting Paradise Street, are three commodious rooms devoted to the postmaster, the clerks, and the accountants of the establishment, while at the back are similar apartments for the telegraph engineer and his staff. It had been arranged that the new office should be opened for the transaction of business this day, but the fittings had not been completed and the postnanater found that by taking up occupation too soon his work might be seriously impeded. Accordingly, possession will be taken late on Saturday night, and on Sunday, for the first time for many years, it is to be hoped the officials will conduct their operations in comfort. There is one matter in connection with the new office which should be specially mentioned. Thee extra room provided will undoubtedly allow of the present amount of business being conducted easily and well. Such, however, will not he the case in the course of a few years, if the work of the department increases in the same ratio as it has done for several years past. The new Post Office is apparently substantially enough built to last long after the business has increased sufficiently to demand a building twice the size. Mr. Williams of her Majesty's Office of Works, prepared the design for the new building; Messrs. Parnell and Son, of Rugby, are the builders, and have also carried out the fittings ; and Mr. George Reavell has officiated as clerk of the works.
