scarborough post office (1881)
19 Huntriss Row
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Architect
James Williams Year 1881 Selected bibliographical references Bullamore, Colin P. The Postal History of Scarborough. Yorkshire Postal History Society, 1989 Builder 29 Jan 1881, p. 137 Building News 24 Dec 1880, p. 778 York Herald 15 Dec 1880, p. 7 Yorkshire Gazette 2 Apr 1881, p. 4; 9 Apr 1881, p. 4 History Opened: 6 Apr 1881 Closed: 1910? Current use: Bank premises |
Building description
From: York Herald 15 December 1880, p. 7
For some months past the progress of the building of the new General Post-office in Huntriss-row, Scarbro', has been watched with considerable interest, more especially by those who were cognisant of the inconveniences of the existing office, and consequently anxious for the advantages and improved accommodation promised by the new erection. After carefully looking over the new building we feel confident that public expectation will be more than realised, for it is evident the Government authorities in the Post-office Department have been most anxious to afford the best possible accommodation to the public, and at the same time have not overlooked the health, convenience, and comfort of the numerous employees who will have to spend therein many hours of both day and night in the discharge of their respective duties. The following brief descriptive outline of the building, with its offices, &c., will, no doubt, bear out the above statement : — The new building fronts the street known as Huntriss-row, nearest to the Westborough end, and, as regards position, is most conveniently situate for the general public. The front elevation of the building, which has been designed by Mr James Williams, of her Majesty's Office of Works, Whitehall, London, is of the classic design, and up to the first floor the material used is stones, and above the first floor to the main cornice, red bricks and stone. The main cornice of stone is of a rich and massive character, and has carved upon it the words "Post-office" with the Royal monogram "V.R." There are two entrances from ths street by means of noble well-constructed doorways of stone with coved and fluted jambs, and rich carved work; one of the entrances is for the public use, and the other for the convenience of the letter carriers, sorters, clerks, etc.; that for the latter opens into a corridor leading to the sorting offices, &c, and that for the public also opens into a spacious corridor, in which is placed the staircase leading to the first floor. This staircase is of stone, broad, and of easy ascent, and constructed of moulded spandril steps, and lighted by a lantern light. Before, however, going up stairs, we will describe the basement, which contains the retiring and battery rooms, at the rear of which are numerous offices, lavatories, etc., for the use of the clerks and sorters, and they are all fitted up with sanitary arrangements of the best and most complete description, and there is no direct communication with the main drain, hence there is no risk of offensive effluvia from the main drains permeating the air in or around the new buildings. This basement suite of rooms is reached by two sets of stone steps from the ground floor, and the whole area excavated for the basement and offices measures 112 feet by 40 feet, the height from floor to ceiling being 10 feet. The ground floor, in which the public business will be carried on, consists of the public office, a noble room forty feet long and 23 feet 6 inches wide, with a height of 17 feet; a rich mahogany counter runs the full length of this room, on the west side of which the attendants will preside, and the opposite side is being fitted up with desks, etc., for telegraph messages. Behind this noble room is a spacious and well lighted room for the sorting office, which is 54 feet three inches long by 27 feet wide, and it is lighted with both side and lantern lights, the latter running the full length of the roof, and made by opening to afford ample ventilation. Adjoining is the postmasters' room, twelve foot six inches by fourteen feet six inches. The first floor contains the telegraphic instrument room, and the boys, messengers, and telegraph clerks' retiring rooms, and on the staircase landing are placed the lavatories. &.c, for their use, the whole of the walls of which are faced with white Dutch tiles, giving a clean and tidy look to all around. The instrument room is 23 feet by 32 feet 6 inches, and 15 feet 6 inches high, with ample light and ventilation. Round the whole of the rooms, except those of the basement, a massive cornice gives relief and finish, and the woodwork, except the counters already named and the doors to the public office, will be painted and grained. The entrance to the public office from he corridor will be through swing doors of mahogany, the upper panels being of plate glass, and the screen dividing the public office from the sorting room will be filled with embossed glass of elegant pattern. The roof of the sorting office is constructed of iron principals, strong and light, and register stoves are being fitted to all the rooms except the retiring rooms, which will be furnished with kitchen ranges, and we may likewise add that as a precaution against fire the offices will be fitted up with hydrants of approved construction. As stated at the outset, the building is now rapidly approaching completion, and it needs only a brief inspection to see that all the work has been done in a most efficient and substantial manner, reflecting the highest
credit on Mr. Weatherley, of York, the contractor, and Mr. John Plows, his managing foreman, who throughout has been most zealous in the discharge of his duties, superintending the men, etc., and we cannot emit to offer a meed of praise to Mr. Thomas Leake, the clerk of the works for the Government, who likewise has been most attentive to his duties, and whose courtesy and geniality has won him many friends in Scarbro'. Altogether the work so far has progressed in a most satisfactory manner, without mishap or unpleasantness, and the people of Scarbro' will have every reason to be not only satisfied with the conveniences afforded by the erection of the new post-office, but will be proud of it as adding one more elegant building to the many which adorn the good old town. We may add that the new offices are expected to be quite complete and brought into operation early in the new year.
From: York Herald 15 December 1880, p. 7
For some months past the progress of the building of the new General Post-office in Huntriss-row, Scarbro', has been watched with considerable interest, more especially by those who were cognisant of the inconveniences of the existing office, and consequently anxious for the advantages and improved accommodation promised by the new erection. After carefully looking over the new building we feel confident that public expectation will be more than realised, for it is evident the Government authorities in the Post-office Department have been most anxious to afford the best possible accommodation to the public, and at the same time have not overlooked the health, convenience, and comfort of the numerous employees who will have to spend therein many hours of both day and night in the discharge of their respective duties. The following brief descriptive outline of the building, with its offices, &c., will, no doubt, bear out the above statement : — The new building fronts the street known as Huntriss-row, nearest to the Westborough end, and, as regards position, is most conveniently situate for the general public. The front elevation of the building, which has been designed by Mr James Williams, of her Majesty's Office of Works, Whitehall, London, is of the classic design, and up to the first floor the material used is stones, and above the first floor to the main cornice, red bricks and stone. The main cornice of stone is of a rich and massive character, and has carved upon it the words "Post-office" with the Royal monogram "V.R." There are two entrances from ths street by means of noble well-constructed doorways of stone with coved and fluted jambs, and rich carved work; one of the entrances is for the public use, and the other for the convenience of the letter carriers, sorters, clerks, etc.; that for the latter opens into a corridor leading to the sorting offices, &c, and that for the public also opens into a spacious corridor, in which is placed the staircase leading to the first floor. This staircase is of stone, broad, and of easy ascent, and constructed of moulded spandril steps, and lighted by a lantern light. Before, however, going up stairs, we will describe the basement, which contains the retiring and battery rooms, at the rear of which are numerous offices, lavatories, etc., for the use of the clerks and sorters, and they are all fitted up with sanitary arrangements of the best and most complete description, and there is no direct communication with the main drain, hence there is no risk of offensive effluvia from the main drains permeating the air in or around the new buildings. This basement suite of rooms is reached by two sets of stone steps from the ground floor, and the whole area excavated for the basement and offices measures 112 feet by 40 feet, the height from floor to ceiling being 10 feet. The ground floor, in which the public business will be carried on, consists of the public office, a noble room forty feet long and 23 feet 6 inches wide, with a height of 17 feet; a rich mahogany counter runs the full length of this room, on the west side of which the attendants will preside, and the opposite side is being fitted up with desks, etc., for telegraph messages. Behind this noble room is a spacious and well lighted room for the sorting office, which is 54 feet three inches long by 27 feet wide, and it is lighted with both side and lantern lights, the latter running the full length of the roof, and made by opening to afford ample ventilation. Adjoining is the postmasters' room, twelve foot six inches by fourteen feet six inches. The first floor contains the telegraphic instrument room, and the boys, messengers, and telegraph clerks' retiring rooms, and on the staircase landing are placed the lavatories. &.c, for their use, the whole of the walls of which are faced with white Dutch tiles, giving a clean and tidy look to all around. The instrument room is 23 feet by 32 feet 6 inches, and 15 feet 6 inches high, with ample light and ventilation. Round the whole of the rooms, except those of the basement, a massive cornice gives relief and finish, and the woodwork, except the counters already named and the doors to the public office, will be painted and grained. The entrance to the public office from he corridor will be through swing doors of mahogany, the upper panels being of plate glass, and the screen dividing the public office from the sorting room will be filled with embossed glass of elegant pattern. The roof of the sorting office is constructed of iron principals, strong and light, and register stoves are being fitted to all the rooms except the retiring rooms, which will be furnished with kitchen ranges, and we may likewise add that as a precaution against fire the offices will be fitted up with hydrants of approved construction. As stated at the outset, the building is now rapidly approaching completion, and it needs only a brief inspection to see that all the work has been done in a most efficient and substantial manner, reflecting the highest
credit on Mr. Weatherley, of York, the contractor, and Mr. John Plows, his managing foreman, who throughout has been most zealous in the discharge of his duties, superintending the men, etc., and we cannot emit to offer a meed of praise to Mr. Thomas Leake, the clerk of the works for the Government, who likewise has been most attentive to his duties, and whose courtesy and geniality has won him many friends in Scarbro'. Altogether the work so far has progressed in a most satisfactory manner, without mishap or unpleasantness, and the people of Scarbro' will have every reason to be not only satisfied with the conveniences afforded by the erection of the new post-office, but will be proud of it as adding one more elegant building to the many which adorn the good old town. We may add that the new offices are expected to be quite complete and brought into operation early in the new year.
