BRECHIN POST OFFICE (1895)
10 Panmure Street/2 St Martin's Lane
Photograph © RCAHMS
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Architect: D. & J. R. McMillan Year: 1895 Archive sources Canmore: ID 265893 Selected bibliographical references Dundee Courier 18 Sep 1894, p. 3; 13 Dec 1894, p. 3; 5 Mar 1895, p. 4 (illustration); 10 October 1895, p. 5 History Closed Current use: Converted into flats after retail use following closure |
Building description
From: Dundee Courier 10 October 1895, p. 5
The new Brechin Post Office has just been completed by the various contractors, and Mr Robertson, the postmaster, has removed his "goods and chattels" to his new domicile. No greater contrast could be fancied than the present Post Office in the old Courthouse and the new one, which will be opened to-day for the first time. The new Post Office Buildings occupy a first-class corner site in Swan Street, a few doors along from the Dundee Courier Branch Office, between the Clydesdale Bank and St Martin's Lane, and have been erected through the enterprise of Mr A. Pirie, Commercial Hotel, who erected the buildings specially for post office, and to whom much credit is due for his placing at the disposal of the Post Office authorities so excellent accommodation [sic]. Their old office in St David Street was found some time ago utterly inadequate for the growing business transacted, but in the new premises ample provision is made to allow of a very much larger business being overtaken by the staff. The ground floor of the new buildings comprises the Post Office proper. The main entrance to the office is by means of a handsome doorway in the corner, having circular Ionic pillars, frieze and pediment over it. The frontage to Panmure Street is short, but from the length of frontage to the lane the building will have a rather imposing appearance. Over the first floor there has been placed a handsome cornice, while above it is a parapet and cornice, and this, being broken up by windows and dormer heads extended partially into the roof, forms a pleasing feature in the design. On the side wall of the lane elevation there has been built a neat gable. Altogether the building forms a handsome addition to the Brechin architecture. The internal arrangements of the Post Office are not yet quite completed, but when everything is in its place it will be a model establishment in this way at least. The fittings are all of the very best and of the newest design. The main entrance gives access to the large public office, the doorway being laid artistically with tiles. The feature, however, of the office, it might be said, is the handsome counter, which is specially fitted up, making excellent provision for all the various necessities of a post office counter, which will prove most convenient. The registered letter and parcel box, instead of, as in most offices, being placed in an out-of-the-way corner, has been constructed in the counter, and will thus always be under watch, making any attempt at tampering with it futile. All the stamp drawers are provided with divisions for the different kinds of stamps, and the postal order drawers are similarly fitted up with handy divisions, which will accelerate the work of serving customers very much. At the end of the counter is a desk, where all advices and money order forms will be contained, thus minimising the possibility of their being extracted without liberty. The letter and newspaper boxes are immediately at the end of the counter, while there is provided waiting accommodation for customers and desks for writing telegrams. The public office is separated from the sorting-room and postmaster's room by a handsome glass partition, and measures 25 feet by 20. Behind the partition is the sorting-room, measuring 31 feet by 17 feet 6 inches, there being back exit provided for despatching and receiving mails, which are tumbled out on the middle of a large table placed in the centre of the sorting-room. The letters on being placed on the table are attacked by two clerks, one at each side of the table, and stamped and sorted. From this table they are handed to the different postmen, each of whom has his own desk provided with three divisions to assist in the sorting of his letters. At the opposite side of the room is the despatching table similarly fitted with all the latest improvements by Mr E. Dexter, post office fitter, Market Harborough, and the divisions labelled with the names of the different places. Here also are placed the private boxes, &c. The large room is heated with a slow combustion stove, while the whole of the ground floor is excellently lighted by means of large windows both to Panmure Street and Martin's Lane, which are fitted with handsome plate glass haying "Post Office" engraved. Between the public office and sorting-room is placed a comfortable office for Mr J. C. Robertson, the postmaster. Adjacent to the sorting rooms are male and female retiring-rooms, lavatories, &c., while to the back is a commodious telegraph instrument room, provision also being made for the taking over of the telephone trunk lines, which takes place on January 1st, 1896. Off the instrument-room are the battery and storage rooms, while extra accommodation provided for times of high pressure, such as Christmas, &c. In the sorting-room is placed lockfast case for holding the keys and tablets of the pillar-boxes, so that at a glance it can be seen whether everything is right. The Postmaster (Mr Robertson) has been provided with a first-class dwelling-house, from which a private entrance will communicate with the Post Office. The other dwelling-house, it is understood, has been taken by several county gentlemen on behalf of club now being formed. Altogether the Post Office is a model erection, and will be thankfully welcomed by the Brechin public. The contractors for the work are : Mason, Mr D. A. Crabb, Brechin ; carpenters, Messrs William Henry & Sons, Montrose ; slater, Mr James Scott, Brechin ; plasterer, Mr James Gibson, Brechin; plumbers, Messrs Charles Middleton & Son, Brechin painters and glaziers, Messrs J. Mason & Son, Aberdeen; ironfounders, Messrs Redpath, Brown, & Co., Edinburgh. The architects for the building are Messrs D. & J. R. M'Millan, Aberdeen.
The new Brechin Post Office has just been completed by the various contractors, and Mr Robertson, the postmaster, has removed his "goods and chattels" to his new domicile. No greater contrast could be fancied than the present Post Office in the old Courthouse and the new one, which will be opened to-day for the first time. The new Post Office Buildings occupy a first-class corner site in Swan Street, a few doors along from the Dundee Courier Branch Office, between the Clydesdale Bank and St Martin's Lane, and have been erected through the enterprise of Mr A. Pirie, Commercial Hotel, who erected the buildings specially for post office, and to whom much credit is due for his placing at the disposal of the Post Office authorities so excellent accommodation [sic]. Their old office in St David Street was found some time ago utterly inadequate for the growing business transacted, but in the new premises ample provision is made to allow of a very much larger business being overtaken by the staff. The ground floor of the new buildings comprises the Post Office proper. The main entrance to the office is by means of a handsome doorway in the corner, having circular Ionic pillars, frieze and pediment over it. The frontage to Panmure Street is short, but from the length of frontage to the lane the building will have a rather imposing appearance. Over the first floor there has been placed a handsome cornice, while above it is a parapet and cornice, and this, being broken up by windows and dormer heads extended partially into the roof, forms a pleasing feature in the design. On the side wall of the lane elevation there has been built a neat gable. Altogether the building forms a handsome addition to the Brechin architecture. The internal arrangements of the Post Office are not yet quite completed, but when everything is in its place it will be a model establishment in this way at least. The fittings are all of the very best and of the newest design. The main entrance gives access to the large public office, the doorway being laid artistically with tiles. The feature, however, of the office, it might be said, is the handsome counter, which is specially fitted up, making excellent provision for all the various necessities of a post office counter, which will prove most convenient. The registered letter and parcel box, instead of, as in most offices, being placed in an out-of-the-way corner, has been constructed in the counter, and will thus always be under watch, making any attempt at tampering with it futile. All the stamp drawers are provided with divisions for the different kinds of stamps, and the postal order drawers are similarly fitted up with handy divisions, which will accelerate the work of serving customers very much. At the end of the counter is a desk, where all advices and money order forms will be contained, thus minimising the possibility of their being extracted without liberty. The letter and newspaper boxes are immediately at the end of the counter, while there is provided waiting accommodation for customers and desks for writing telegrams. The public office is separated from the sorting-room and postmaster's room by a handsome glass partition, and measures 25 feet by 20. Behind the partition is the sorting-room, measuring 31 feet by 17 feet 6 inches, there being back exit provided for despatching and receiving mails, which are tumbled out on the middle of a large table placed in the centre of the sorting-room. The letters on being placed on the table are attacked by two clerks, one at each side of the table, and stamped and sorted. From this table they are handed to the different postmen, each of whom has his own desk provided with three divisions to assist in the sorting of his letters. At the opposite side of the room is the despatching table similarly fitted with all the latest improvements by Mr E. Dexter, post office fitter, Market Harborough, and the divisions labelled with the names of the different places. Here also are placed the private boxes, &c. The large room is heated with a slow combustion stove, while the whole of the ground floor is excellently lighted by means of large windows both to Panmure Street and Martin's Lane, which are fitted with handsome plate glass haying "Post Office" engraved. Between the public office and sorting-room is placed a comfortable office for Mr J. C. Robertson, the postmaster. Adjacent to the sorting rooms are male and female retiring-rooms, lavatories, &c., while to the back is a commodious telegraph instrument room, provision also being made for the taking over of the telephone trunk lines, which takes place on January 1st, 1896. Off the instrument-room are the battery and storage rooms, while extra accommodation provided for times of high pressure, such as Christmas, &c. In the sorting-room is placed lockfast case for holding the keys and tablets of the pillar-boxes, so that at a glance it can be seen whether everything is right. The Postmaster (Mr Robertson) has been provided with a first-class dwelling-house, from which a private entrance will communicate with the Post Office. The other dwelling-house, it is understood, has been taken by several county gentlemen on behalf of club now being formed. Altogether the Post Office is a model erection, and will be thankfully welcomed by the Brechin public. The contractors for the work are : Mason, Mr D. A. Crabb, Brechin ; carpenters, Messrs William Henry & Sons, Montrose ; slater, Mr James Scott, Brechin ; plasterer, Mr James Gibson, Brechin; plumbers, Messrs Charles Middleton & Son, Brechin painters and glaziers, Messrs J. Mason & Son, Aberdeen; ironfounders, Messrs Redpath, Brown, & Co., Edinburgh. The architects for the building are Messrs D. & J. R. M'Millan, Aberdeen.
