MORPETH POST OFFICE (1886)
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Architect: Boolds & Hardy Year: 1886 Selected bibliographical references Morpeth Herald 27 Nov 1886, p. 2; 4 Dec 1886, p. 2 (architectural description & illustration) History Demolished |
Building description
From: Morpeth Herald 4 December 1886, p. 2
The above is an engraving the new Post Office, taken from a photograph kindly sent to us by the Postmaster (Mr. T. W. Knight), and the following is the Architect's description of the building:— The elevation to the Market is carried out principally in stone, having red pressed bricks between the pilasters and cornices that divide each floor. The style adopted is Classic, freely treated. A very pleasing feature is made of the principal entrance and large office window, embracing them under one large segmental arch between banded pilasters, having moulded caps and bases, and springing from imposts also having moulded caps and bases. The pilasters stand on pedestals which are carried along under a large window and support an architrave frieze and cornice. From the carved and moulded keystone arch springs the corbelling that supports a very handsome oriel window, having moulded caps and bases to the mullions, and the frieze and cornices before-mentioned worked round. Over the banded pilasters are rusticated pilasters which are carried up for two stories and finished with finials. These pilasters support a frieze and cornice at each floor. Above the top cornice is balustrade stopping against the pilasters. The spandril of arch is filled in with the words " Post Office," and delicately carved sprays of the "willow," interlaced with ribbands. By comparing the dimensions of the old and new offices together a very fair idea of the amount of accommodation gained by the new over the old office may be gleaned. The working space of the old office was 36ft. by 12ft., by 8ft. 6in. high; the new office working space is 40ft. by 18ft 6in., by 12ft. 3in. high. The public space of the old office was 10ft. 6in. by 6ft., while that of the new 16ft by 7ft. 6in. It will be seen by these figures that the floor space of the new office is 360 sup. feet more than and the cubic contents 6,280 cubic feet more than the old office. The new office is well lighted five large windows, two of which are made to open from the transom by and pullies for ventilation. The public vestibule is laid with Minton's tiles of very handsome pattern. The screen to vestibule, folding doors and large office window have ornamental bars, and are filled with stained glass and lead work from the Gateshead Stained Glass Company. The counter is 18ft 6in. long, and of very chaste design, and is fitted with drawers, pigeon-holes and sliding doors the full extent. The other fittings comprise 15 postmen's desks with pigeon-holes over, newspaper racks, opening and sorting tables (these tables have shelves and sliding doors under for storage); also there are several other fittings for registered letters, private boxes, &c., &c. An iron safe is built into the wall for valuable documents, &c. Another improvement on the old office is, that private offices are provided for the postmaster and telegraphist, fitted with desks, drawers and pigeon-holes. The office is heated by a large gill stove which can be removed during the summer months, and lighted by gas brackets walls and patent gas pendant in the centre and by standards on the counter. A lavatory and w.c. is provided for the men; the w.c. is disconnected from the office by a passage for cross ventilation. In the old office great inconvenience was felt by everything bring brought through the public entrance; the new office is provided with a separate entrance in Lumsden's Lane for postmen, parcels, The postmaster's house occupies the first and second floors, and has a private entrance and staircase from Lane and a private door into the post office. On the first floor are the following rooms. The drawing-room is a large, handsome room, having an oriel window looking into the Market Place. The top portion of this window is filled in with stained glass and the lower portion with plate-glass; the chimney-piece in white marble and pale blue tiles. All the paintwork is white and pale blue, to match the chimney-piece. The cornice and centre flower are from very handsome designs. The sitting-room also a large, well-lighted room, having a chimneypiece in dark marble with tiles to match. The paintwork is executed in leather colour, with the mouldings of architraves, skirtings and doors picked out with black and all varnished. The cornice to this room is also very good. The kitchen a well-lighted and airy room, and has an adjoining a scullery having large sink fitted with hot and cold water, and small dresser and cupboard for pots, &c. Close to the kitchen is a large pantry, a lumber closet, and china closet. The staircase to the second floor starts from an inner hall, and has special designed balusters, a mahogany handrail, moulded strings and newel posts, and is oak-grained and varnished. The staircase from Lumsden's Lane is also finished in a similar manner. This staircase is lighted by a large window filled with stained and figured ground glass; also the screen door on first floor landing is filled with stained and figured ground glass. the second floor are the bed-rooms, bath-rooms, w.c., linen press, two closets, and the wash-house. The best bed-room is finished a similar manner as the drawing-room, having white marble chimney-piece and white and blue paintwork, and a very neat cornice. This room looks on to the Market Place from two windows. All the other bed-rooms are large, well-lighted rooms, having a fireplace in each. The wash-house is a room of fair dimensions, having a trough fitted with water tap and a large boiler, over which is a hood for taking away the steam. The floor is cement, and constructed in a very substantial manner as to prevent any noise being heard below. The reason for having the wash-house at the top the house because there is not any yard, the house being complete within itself. All the passages, halls, staircases, and landings are spacious and well lighted, and all the paintwork for the rooms not specially mentioned before is finished in a chocolate colour with the mouldings picked out with black, and the whole varnished. From a sanitary point of view the house is perfect. The soil pipe is carried up outside and finished with a cowl above the eaves of roof. The waste from lavatory, bath and sinks is discharged onto open gratings, and the rainwater is collected in such a manner so that it will form a direct flush to the soil pipe and drain. In conclusion, all the mason work and plaster cornices and a great portion of the joiner's mouldings have been executed according to full size details, designed by the architects. Mr. T. W. Middlemiss, Morpeth, was the contractor, and the work has been executed according to the designs and under the superintendence of Messrs. Boolds and Hardy, architects, Victoria Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne. A system of speaking tubes connect the best bedroom, drawing-room, and sitting-room with the Post Office.
From: Morpeth Herald 4 December 1886, p. 2
The above is an engraving the new Post Office, taken from a photograph kindly sent to us by the Postmaster (Mr. T. W. Knight), and the following is the Architect's description of the building:— The elevation to the Market is carried out principally in stone, having red pressed bricks between the pilasters and cornices that divide each floor. The style adopted is Classic, freely treated. A very pleasing feature is made of the principal entrance and large office window, embracing them under one large segmental arch between banded pilasters, having moulded caps and bases, and springing from imposts also having moulded caps and bases. The pilasters stand on pedestals which are carried along under a large window and support an architrave frieze and cornice. From the carved and moulded keystone arch springs the corbelling that supports a very handsome oriel window, having moulded caps and bases to the mullions, and the frieze and cornices before-mentioned worked round. Over the banded pilasters are rusticated pilasters which are carried up for two stories and finished with finials. These pilasters support a frieze and cornice at each floor. Above the top cornice is balustrade stopping against the pilasters. The spandril of arch is filled in with the words " Post Office," and delicately carved sprays of the "willow," interlaced with ribbands. By comparing the dimensions of the old and new offices together a very fair idea of the amount of accommodation gained by the new over the old office may be gleaned. The working space of the old office was 36ft. by 12ft., by 8ft. 6in. high; the new office working space is 40ft. by 18ft 6in., by 12ft. 3in. high. The public space of the old office was 10ft. 6in. by 6ft., while that of the new 16ft by 7ft. 6in. It will be seen by these figures that the floor space of the new office is 360 sup. feet more than and the cubic contents 6,280 cubic feet more than the old office. The new office is well lighted five large windows, two of which are made to open from the transom by and pullies for ventilation. The public vestibule is laid with Minton's tiles of very handsome pattern. The screen to vestibule, folding doors and large office window have ornamental bars, and are filled with stained glass and lead work from the Gateshead Stained Glass Company. The counter is 18ft 6in. long, and of very chaste design, and is fitted with drawers, pigeon-holes and sliding doors the full extent. The other fittings comprise 15 postmen's desks with pigeon-holes over, newspaper racks, opening and sorting tables (these tables have shelves and sliding doors under for storage); also there are several other fittings for registered letters, private boxes, &c., &c. An iron safe is built into the wall for valuable documents, &c. Another improvement on the old office is, that private offices are provided for the postmaster and telegraphist, fitted with desks, drawers and pigeon-holes. The office is heated by a large gill stove which can be removed during the summer months, and lighted by gas brackets walls and patent gas pendant in the centre and by standards on the counter. A lavatory and w.c. is provided for the men; the w.c. is disconnected from the office by a passage for cross ventilation. In the old office great inconvenience was felt by everything bring brought through the public entrance; the new office is provided with a separate entrance in Lumsden's Lane for postmen, parcels, The postmaster's house occupies the first and second floors, and has a private entrance and staircase from Lane and a private door into the post office. On the first floor are the following rooms. The drawing-room is a large, handsome room, having an oriel window looking into the Market Place. The top portion of this window is filled in with stained glass and the lower portion with plate-glass; the chimney-piece in white marble and pale blue tiles. All the paintwork is white and pale blue, to match the chimney-piece. The cornice and centre flower are from very handsome designs. The sitting-room also a large, well-lighted room, having a chimneypiece in dark marble with tiles to match. The paintwork is executed in leather colour, with the mouldings of architraves, skirtings and doors picked out with black and all varnished. The cornice to this room is also very good. The kitchen a well-lighted and airy room, and has an adjoining a scullery having large sink fitted with hot and cold water, and small dresser and cupboard for pots, &c. Close to the kitchen is a large pantry, a lumber closet, and china closet. The staircase to the second floor starts from an inner hall, and has special designed balusters, a mahogany handrail, moulded strings and newel posts, and is oak-grained and varnished. The staircase from Lumsden's Lane is also finished in a similar manner. This staircase is lighted by a large window filled with stained and figured ground glass; also the screen door on first floor landing is filled with stained and figured ground glass. the second floor are the bed-rooms, bath-rooms, w.c., linen press, two closets, and the wash-house. The best bed-room is finished a similar manner as the drawing-room, having white marble chimney-piece and white and blue paintwork, and a very neat cornice. This room looks on to the Market Place from two windows. All the other bed-rooms are large, well-lighted rooms, having a fireplace in each. The wash-house is a room of fair dimensions, having a trough fitted with water tap and a large boiler, over which is a hood for taking away the steam. The floor is cement, and constructed in a very substantial manner as to prevent any noise being heard below. The reason for having the wash-house at the top the house because there is not any yard, the house being complete within itself. All the passages, halls, staircases, and landings are spacious and well lighted, and all the paintwork for the rooms not specially mentioned before is finished in a chocolate colour with the mouldings picked out with black, and the whole varnished. From a sanitary point of view the house is perfect. The soil pipe is carried up outside and finished with a cowl above the eaves of roof. The waste from lavatory, bath and sinks is discharged onto open gratings, and the rainwater is collected in such a manner so that it will form a direct flush to the soil pipe and drain. In conclusion, all the mason work and plaster cornices and a great portion of the joiner's mouldings have been executed according to full size details, designed by the architects. Mr. T. W. Middlemiss, Morpeth, was the contractor, and the work has been executed according to the designs and under the superintendence of Messrs. Boolds and Hardy, architects, Victoria Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne. A system of speaking tubes connect the best bedroom, drawing-room, and sitting-room with the Post Office.
