stowmarket post office (1890)
16 Market Place
Postcard view
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Architect
George Dobson Year 1890 Selected bibliographical references Bury and Norwich Post 21 Jan 1890, p. 8 History Opened: 17 Jan 1890 Closed: c.1937 Current use: Bookmaker ("Corals") |
Building description
From: Bury and Norwich Post 21 January 1890, p. 8
On Friday the oid Post-office in Ipswich-street, Stowmarket, was closed, and the new office in the Market-place was opened without any ceremony. The new building is erected on the site of the stay factory, and adjoins the shop of Mr. Bishop, butcher. The rapidly expanding business of the Post-office in the town rendered its old habitation totally inadequate, and upon the Government advertising for better accommodation, Mr. Bishop at once offered to build a suitable Post-office to meet in all respects modern requirements. This has been done, and although no pretence can be made to architectural beauty, the public will most heartily appreciate the new premises. The building is of white brick, with stone dressings, aud covers an area of 2,500 feet, having a frontage of 83 feet. The front part of the ground floor is the public office, well lighted with large windows, having Venetian blinds. This is divided by a glass screen, and is the sorting and telegraph office. This also is well lighted from the roof, and by gas at night with one of Wenham's gas lamps. At the rear is the Postmen's room and offices; on one side of the sorting-office is an excellent lavatory. The first and second storey is the Post-master's dwelling, which is well planned and conveniently fitted up. The fittings and furnishings, which are mostly of mahogany and pitch pine, are of the most modern kind, and consist of postmen's sorting-table with eight divisions, enabling that number of persons to sit and sort at the same time, also a double sorting-table, an opening and stamping table, the top formed with stone slabs and covered with vulcanite India-rubber quarter-inch thick. There are also newspaper sorting-tables, parcels rack, sealing-table, registered letter table and locker, Postmaster's table and locker, instrument tables, safes, and numerous other necessary fittings. The back entrance, where the postmen will enter and all parcels for the Post-office, is by the George yard. The plans were prepared by Mr. George Dobson, of Colchester, and the whole of the work has been ably carried out by Messrs. Andrews and Sons, builders, Stowmarket, under the personal superintendence of Mr. William Murray. There was at one time a proposal to fix an illuminated clock in front of the Post-office, and through the energy of Mr. Thomas Cook the greater part of the money was subscribed. Some difficulty, however, arose as to lighting the clock, and the project had to be abandoned and the money returned. An excellent clock is fixed inside by Mr. George Tydeman, of Stowmarket, which can be seen well from the outside. The resources of the staff have been severely taxed the past^week, several clerks being detained at home by influenza colds. Mr. Baillie, the new Post-master, has been equal to the occasion, and eventually business will go on comfortably.
From: Bury and Norwich Post 21 January 1890, p. 8
On Friday the oid Post-office in Ipswich-street, Stowmarket, was closed, and the new office in the Market-place was opened without any ceremony. The new building is erected on the site of the stay factory, and adjoins the shop of Mr. Bishop, butcher. The rapidly expanding business of the Post-office in the town rendered its old habitation totally inadequate, and upon the Government advertising for better accommodation, Mr. Bishop at once offered to build a suitable Post-office to meet in all respects modern requirements. This has been done, and although no pretence can be made to architectural beauty, the public will most heartily appreciate the new premises. The building is of white brick, with stone dressings, aud covers an area of 2,500 feet, having a frontage of 83 feet. The front part of the ground floor is the public office, well lighted with large windows, having Venetian blinds. This is divided by a glass screen, and is the sorting and telegraph office. This also is well lighted from the roof, and by gas at night with one of Wenham's gas lamps. At the rear is the Postmen's room and offices; on one side of the sorting-office is an excellent lavatory. The first and second storey is the Post-master's dwelling, which is well planned and conveniently fitted up. The fittings and furnishings, which are mostly of mahogany and pitch pine, are of the most modern kind, and consist of postmen's sorting-table with eight divisions, enabling that number of persons to sit and sort at the same time, also a double sorting-table, an opening and stamping table, the top formed with stone slabs and covered with vulcanite India-rubber quarter-inch thick. There are also newspaper sorting-tables, parcels rack, sealing-table, registered letter table and locker, Postmaster's table and locker, instrument tables, safes, and numerous other necessary fittings. The back entrance, where the postmen will enter and all parcels for the Post-office, is by the George yard. The plans were prepared by Mr. George Dobson, of Colchester, and the whole of the work has been ably carried out by Messrs. Andrews and Sons, builders, Stowmarket, under the personal superintendence of Mr. William Murray. There was at one time a proposal to fix an illuminated clock in front of the Post-office, and through the energy of Mr. Thomas Cook the greater part of the money was subscribed. Some difficulty, however, arose as to lighting the clock, and the project had to be abandoned and the money returned. An excellent clock is fixed inside by Mr. George Tydeman, of Stowmarket, which can be seen well from the outside. The resources of the staff have been severely taxed the past^week, several clerks being detained at home by influenza colds. Mr. Baillie, the new Post-master, has been equal to the occasion, and eventually business will go on comfortably.
