Saffron Walden Post Office (1890)
10 King Street
Photographs © Julian Osley
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Architect
Whiffin, F.J. Year 1890 Selected bibliographical references Cambridge Daily News 14 Jun 1889, p. 4; 26 Jul 1889, p. 4; 27 Sep 1889, p. 4 (illustration) Essex County Chronicle 21 Jun 1889, p. 7 History It seems the builder F.J. Whiffin, trading as George Whiffin and Sons, was responsible for both the design and construction of the building, during the erection of which the firm was declared bankrupt Closed: c.1919 Current use: Retail premises ("Monsoon") |
Building description
From: Cambridge Daily News 27 September 1889, p. 4
The new Post Office buildings, which occupy a prominent position in King-street ... are now making rapid progress ... The Post Office, its accessories, and the block of shops adjoining, will on the most improved and modern plan, embracing every facility for the carrying on of the daily increasing postal and other businesses. The architect is Mr F.J. Whiffin (Saffron Walden), assisted by Messrs. Benison and Bargman (London) ... The building is being built in the Renaissance style, red brick facings and Bath stone dressings being used for the purpose. The roof will be covered with Staffordshire tiles. The business accommodation will be the most complete. On the ground floor there will be an entrance hall 8ft 6in square. The office for public business will occupy a space of 21ft. by 19ft 6in.; a sorting office, 22 1/2 ft. by 16ft.; stamping office, 14ft. 9in. by 17ft.; postmaster's room, 18ft. by 11ft.m with retiring rooms, lavatories, and other offices. The first floor will consist of the postmaster's private apartments, comprising dining and drawing-room, kitchen, scullery, pantry, etc. Four bedrooms, with dressing and bath rooms, will occupy the second floor, whilst the third floor will be utilized for servants' bedrooms, etc. The Post Office will have a frontage of 29ft., the highest point being 46ft. A clock, which will be of great service to the public, will surmount the window. A garden will be situated in the rear, and also accommodation provided for a mail-cart by a back entrance in Church-street. Altogether the office will be one of the most replete and attractive in the county ... Previous to 1848 business was transacted at an office which stood on a site near the present Corn Exchange ... About 1848 the then existing Post Office was demolished, the ground being required for erecting the present Corn Exchange and Literary Institute ... The new public buildings being completed, provision was made at the new Institute for a Post Office. Here business was transacted until 1876, when it was found, owing to the increase in postal work, that more commodious premises would be required. At that time the Messrs. Gibson were removing their banking business from Sun-hill to the present splendid building on the Market-hill, and the Post Office authorities were successful in securing the Sun-hill premises, from which time to the present day postal transactions have been successfully carried on, with the exception that there is insufficient room for the growing postal demands, which explains the erection of the present building.
Reprinted from: Saffron Walden Weekly News 21 Sep 1889.
From: Cambridge Daily News 27 September 1889, p. 4
The new Post Office buildings, which occupy a prominent position in King-street ... are now making rapid progress ... The Post Office, its accessories, and the block of shops adjoining, will on the most improved and modern plan, embracing every facility for the carrying on of the daily increasing postal and other businesses. The architect is Mr F.J. Whiffin (Saffron Walden), assisted by Messrs. Benison and Bargman (London) ... The building is being built in the Renaissance style, red brick facings and Bath stone dressings being used for the purpose. The roof will be covered with Staffordshire tiles. The business accommodation will be the most complete. On the ground floor there will be an entrance hall 8ft 6in square. The office for public business will occupy a space of 21ft. by 19ft 6in.; a sorting office, 22 1/2 ft. by 16ft.; stamping office, 14ft. 9in. by 17ft.; postmaster's room, 18ft. by 11ft.m with retiring rooms, lavatories, and other offices. The first floor will consist of the postmaster's private apartments, comprising dining and drawing-room, kitchen, scullery, pantry, etc. Four bedrooms, with dressing and bath rooms, will occupy the second floor, whilst the third floor will be utilized for servants' bedrooms, etc. The Post Office will have a frontage of 29ft., the highest point being 46ft. A clock, which will be of great service to the public, will surmount the window. A garden will be situated in the rear, and also accommodation provided for a mail-cart by a back entrance in Church-street. Altogether the office will be one of the most replete and attractive in the county ... Previous to 1848 business was transacted at an office which stood on a site near the present Corn Exchange ... About 1848 the then existing Post Office was demolished, the ground being required for erecting the present Corn Exchange and Literary Institute ... The new public buildings being completed, provision was made at the new Institute for a Post Office. Here business was transacted until 1876, when it was found, owing to the increase in postal work, that more commodious premises would be required. At that time the Messrs. Gibson were removing their banking business from Sun-hill to the present splendid building on the Market-hill, and the Post Office authorities were successful in securing the Sun-hill premises, from which time to the present day postal transactions have been successfully carried on, with the exception that there is insufficient room for the growing postal demands, which explains the erection of the present building.
Reprinted from: Saffron Walden Weekly News 21 Sep 1889.
