DOVER POST OFFICE (1893)
10 King Street
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Architect: Office of Works (job architect unknown) Year: 1893 Archive sources National Archives: WORK 69/6 (photograph) Selected bibliographical references Dover Express 11 Aug 1893, p. 8; 6 Oct 1893, p. 5 History Opened: 2 Oct 1893 Closed: ?1914 Current use: Awaiting redevelopment after a variety of uses since closure (Sept 2012) No documentary evidence has yet been unearthed to suggest who the architect of this building is. If the building was the responsibility of the Office of Works the architect may well have been Henry Tanner |
Building description
From: Dover Express 11 August 1893, p. 8.
The scaffolding which has stood so long in front of the old site of the Flying Horse Hotel, in King-street, has at length been removed, and there is now fully disclosed to view the frontage of the New General Post Office, which Her Majesty's Government has provided for the accommodation of Dover. The building, as we have previously stated, has been built by our townsman, Mr. Herbert Stiff, who has unquestionably done his work well, and if he has been rather long time over it, the delay has not been his fault. One reason why the work was in hand a good long time was the fact that the money was voted in installments, only a certain amount being provided for each year, and the other was that there was a separate contract for the terra cotta material of which the front is constructed,and that coming in slowly caused delay. The long-standing scaffold poles had become a standing joke, but now that they are gone, everyone must admire the handsome frontage that is displayed. In the opinion of most people it would have been far better if the Government had taken more frontage and certainly, from an architectural point of view, it would, but, on looking inside, we find that ample accommodation for all the requirements of the service has been secured, and when that has been done Government Departments do not waste money in beautifying provincial streets. There is section in a recent Post Office Act providing that when the structure which the Government proposes to erect is not considered sufficiently ornamental for the locality, the local authority may supplement the outlay out of their own funds. The Dover Corporation never entertained the idea of adding the improvement of St. James'-lane to their other enterprises. The Chamber of Commerce did make a well-meant effort by trying to induce the Post Office Authorities to purchase the adjoining houses which their new building runs behind, but owing to in the way the attempt was abandoned, and for better or for worse the outward appearance and dimensions of the New Post Office are settled. The design of the frontage is exceedingly ornate. Something bolder in outline would have better matched the present street architecture of Dover, but as the Post Office will last for many generations the elegance of its style may be followed by future builders. The part of the building presented to the street is a gable with ground floor, two storeys and an attic. The frontage is worthy of rather minute description. The face of the ground floor is chiefly occupied the main door,and the large window that lights the public office. The exterior work is all terra cotta, and the style Elizabethan. The main entrance to this section is the most important feature. On either side of it the pilasters are ornamented, the central figure on each side being a rose. The base is plain. Above the actual doorway, which finishes square, there is a handsome arch containing a port-cullis like fan-light, and in the spandrels are placed the letters V. R. The doorway is surmounted by a handsome pediment, under the span of which there is placed a crown, and on the ornate brackets supporting the pediment on each side are the initials V. R. Altogether the entrance to the Post Office is a very elaborate piece of work. The large window on the side of the door is less ornamented. The lower lights are of large sheet glass and the upper part glazed in small squares. Running along the top of the window is a band on which is "V. Post Office R." On the north side of the window, adjoining a good broad pavement, is the orifice of the letter box. The front of the second floor is pierced with four windows, each divided into two lights and divided horizontally, the lower parts being whole sheet glass and the upper glazed small squares. The terra cotta work between, and each side these windows is relieved with a plain geometrical ornament and ornate caps to the pilasters. Coming to the second storey there is underneath the windows a rather striking combination ornament partaking of a grotesque character, and this is repeated under each of the four windows, forming a very handsome band. Each of the four windows has two lights, the lower parts plain, and the upper in small squares. The tops of these windows are arched and embellished with Greek ornament, and over that is a handsome cornice. From thence to the wall plat is red brick with stone dressing. At each side, where a sort of engaged pillar of red brick runs up from the bottom, forming the division, these are finished off at the spring of the gable by sculptured work, two lions reguardant, one looking to the Market-place and the other towards the sea. In the triangle of the gable is placed a very handsome circular window, beneath which are festoons of flowers and fruit, and on either side are ornamented panels containing the date 1992, thus recording that this work was intended to have been erected last year, although it was only finished a few weeks ago. The apex of the gable is finished with stone coping and a ball at the top. Altogether our Post Office is a thing of beauty, and is well worth the delay, which, we understand, was unavoidable, in providing the embellishments. The building, the handsome frontage of which stands between Mr. Atkins' Boot Establishment and Mr.Pryor's Depot runs back down to the river, and a foundation has been put in, forming a strong river wall with damp-proof courses to prevent any portion of the building being affected the water. the rear there is yard space adjoining Mr. Atkins' premises, and the main building where the postal and telegraph work will be carried on, is behind the corner block and abuts on St. James'-lane. That portion of the building consists of only first and second floors and basement. The interior of the building is now all finished, and the fittings are being put in. Entering the front door the public will find themselves in a large room, down the side of which runs a long counter, at which the business of the Office will be transacted. About one-third of the space is behind the counter and the other part is devoted to the public, and opposite the counter is a series of compartments for writing telegrams. Over the public office on the first floor fronting the street are two large rooms, one of which will the office of the Post Master, and the other the office of the Superintendent of Mail Packets. Behind these are smaller rooms, which will devoted to clerks. The second floor and attic are not for office purposes but will be devoted to the caretaker. In the rear there is one large long building on the ground floor, lighted from St. James'-lane. This will be the sorting office. Above this, corresponding in size, is another room, which is being arranged and fitted for the telegraph operators. At the lower end next the river are lavatories, a waiting room for the boys and postmen, and a cart entrance to the yard for the country mail carts and Parcels Post barrows There is yet a considerable amount of fitting to be done but we are informed that the New Post Office will be occupied this Autumn.
The scaffolding which has stood so long in front of the old site of the Flying Horse Hotel, in King-street, has at length been removed, and there is now fully disclosed to view the frontage of the New General Post Office, which Her Majesty's Government has provided for the accommodation of Dover. The building, as we have previously stated, has been built by our townsman, Mr. Herbert Stiff, who has unquestionably done his work well, and if he has been rather long time over it, the delay has not been his fault. One reason why the work was in hand a good long time was the fact that the money was voted in installments, only a certain amount being provided for each year, and the other was that there was a separate contract for the terra cotta material of which the front is constructed,and that coming in slowly caused delay. The long-standing scaffold poles had become a standing joke, but now that they are gone, everyone must admire the handsome frontage that is displayed. In the opinion of most people it would have been far better if the Government had taken more frontage and certainly, from an architectural point of view, it would, but, on looking inside, we find that ample accommodation for all the requirements of the service has been secured, and when that has been done Government Departments do not waste money in beautifying provincial streets. There is section in a recent Post Office Act providing that when the structure which the Government proposes to erect is not considered sufficiently ornamental for the locality, the local authority may supplement the outlay out of their own funds. The Dover Corporation never entertained the idea of adding the improvement of St. James'-lane to their other enterprises. The Chamber of Commerce did make a well-meant effort by trying to induce the Post Office Authorities to purchase the adjoining houses which their new building runs behind, but owing to in the way the attempt was abandoned, and for better or for worse the outward appearance and dimensions of the New Post Office are settled. The design of the frontage is exceedingly ornate. Something bolder in outline would have better matched the present street architecture of Dover, but as the Post Office will last for many generations the elegance of its style may be followed by future builders. The part of the building presented to the street is a gable with ground floor, two storeys and an attic. The frontage is worthy of rather minute description. The face of the ground floor is chiefly occupied the main door,and the large window that lights the public office. The exterior work is all terra cotta, and the style Elizabethan. The main entrance to this section is the most important feature. On either side of it the pilasters are ornamented, the central figure on each side being a rose. The base is plain. Above the actual doorway, which finishes square, there is a handsome arch containing a port-cullis like fan-light, and in the spandrels are placed the letters V. R. The doorway is surmounted by a handsome pediment, under the span of which there is placed a crown, and on the ornate brackets supporting the pediment on each side are the initials V. R. Altogether the entrance to the Post Office is a very elaborate piece of work. The large window on the side of the door is less ornamented. The lower lights are of large sheet glass and the upper part glazed in small squares. Running along the top of the window is a band on which is "V. Post Office R." On the north side of the window, adjoining a good broad pavement, is the orifice of the letter box. The front of the second floor is pierced with four windows, each divided into two lights and divided horizontally, the lower parts being whole sheet glass and the upper glazed small squares. The terra cotta work between, and each side these windows is relieved with a plain geometrical ornament and ornate caps to the pilasters. Coming to the second storey there is underneath the windows a rather striking combination ornament partaking of a grotesque character, and this is repeated under each of the four windows, forming a very handsome band. Each of the four windows has two lights, the lower parts plain, and the upper in small squares. The tops of these windows are arched and embellished with Greek ornament, and over that is a handsome cornice. From thence to the wall plat is red brick with stone dressing. At each side, where a sort of engaged pillar of red brick runs up from the bottom, forming the division, these are finished off at the spring of the gable by sculptured work, two lions reguardant, one looking to the Market-place and the other towards the sea. In the triangle of the gable is placed a very handsome circular window, beneath which are festoons of flowers and fruit, and on either side are ornamented panels containing the date 1992, thus recording that this work was intended to have been erected last year, although it was only finished a few weeks ago. The apex of the gable is finished with stone coping and a ball at the top. Altogether our Post Office is a thing of beauty, and is well worth the delay, which, we understand, was unavoidable, in providing the embellishments. The building, the handsome frontage of which stands between Mr. Atkins' Boot Establishment and Mr.Pryor's Depot runs back down to the river, and a foundation has been put in, forming a strong river wall with damp-proof courses to prevent any portion of the building being affected the water. the rear there is yard space adjoining Mr. Atkins' premises, and the main building where the postal and telegraph work will be carried on, is behind the corner block and abuts on St. James'-lane. That portion of the building consists of only first and second floors and basement. The interior of the building is now all finished, and the fittings are being put in. Entering the front door the public will find themselves in a large room, down the side of which runs a long counter, at which the business of the Office will be transacted. About one-third of the space is behind the counter and the other part is devoted to the public, and opposite the counter is a series of compartments for writing telegrams. Over the public office on the first floor fronting the street are two large rooms, one of which will the office of the Post Master, and the other the office of the Superintendent of Mail Packets. Behind these are smaller rooms, which will devoted to clerks. The second floor and attic are not for office purposes but will be devoted to the caretaker. In the rear there is one large long building on the ground floor, lighted from St. James'-lane. This will be the sorting office. Above this, corresponding in size, is another room, which is being arranged and fitted for the telegraph operators. At the lower end next the river are lavatories, a waiting room for the boys and postmen, and a cart entrance to the yard for the country mail carts and Parcels Post barrows There is yet a considerable amount of fitting to be done but we are informed that the New Post Office will be occupied this Autumn.