BRAINTREE POST OFFICE (1896)
84 High Street
Photograph © Carol Howard via Flickr
|
Architect: J.W. Clarke Year: 1896 Selected bibliographical references Essex County Chroncle 13 Nov 1896, p. 5 Chelmsford Chronicle 18 Dec 1896, p. 7 History Opened: 15 December 1896 Closed: 19 Sep 1931 Current use: Opticians |
Building description
From: Essex Herald 15 December 1896, p. 8
On Tuesday morning the splendid new Post-office in High-street, to the use of which the inhabitants of Braintree and Bocking have long looked forward, was opened to the public. The new building stands upon the site of the old office, but between the two there is no comparison in the matter of convenience and comfort, both as regards the public and the office staff. The new Post-office is a conspicuous and commanding building, having a frontage of 33 feet and running up to a height of about 40 feet. The front is of white brick ornamented with panels of fancy red brickwork, for which Mr. James Brown's brickyards at Braintree are famous, and which give the facade a distinctive feature. In the centre, between the two ground floor windows, is placed a clock, by Messrs. Parkes Bros., surrounded by a design in stone. There are two large entrances to the building, one at either side, that to the east, and nearest the Corn Exchange, being for the public, and the other for the staff. At the public entrance there is a lobby opening into the office by two swing doors with glass panelling. The public office is a spacious compartment, paved with wood blocks, and fitted up in the most approved fashion. The telegraphic office is to the front and from it a broad and handsome counter with mahogany top runs the remaining entire length of the public office. For the use of the staff there are numerous cupboards, pigeon-holes, etc. and the tills are elaborately made for the special use to which they are they are put. At the end of the office is a telegraph desk, with three partitions, for the use of the public. The lofty ceiling is surrounded by a pretty cornice in plaster. Adjoining the public office, and just under the other front window, is the postmaster’s office, which is very conveniently placed for supervising the business of the whole establishment. At the rear of the public office and separated from it by a sliding glass-panelled door is the sorting office, which is 32 feet long and 17 feet wide. It has a gable roof, fitted with a large lantern light. This office, like the public department, is exceedingly well-lighted. Besides the usual offices there are lavatories fitted with hot and cold water. The fittings of the offices which are of the latest pattern and made of pitch pine, which gives them a light and pleasing appearance. These certainly do the Educational Supply Association, who made them, much credit. The offices are warmed with hot water apparatus and in the front office incandescent gas lights are provided. The upper storeys of the building form the private residence of the postmaster. The rooms and staircases are well-lighted and ventilated, and conveniently arranged, thereby giving the postmaster a private entrance to the public office and to the street. On the west-side a wide passage runs under the building to the sorting office, where the mails are receiving and despatched. Every inch of the site has been used to the best advantage, and nothing is left out that could be desired either by the public or the Post-office staff. With this up=to-date, the recently opened sub-office at the east of the town, and the services of the able courteous postmaster, Mr. A. Cocks, the local requirements are now well met, and it is felt that the new and spacious offices is a great boon to the town. The owner of the building, Mr. G.T. Bartram, has taken great personal interest in the work, his object being to satisfy not only the Postal authorities but the public, and the result is an office which is a credit to all concerned. The architect was Mr. J. W. Clarke, of Coggeshall, and the builders were Messrs. Jos. Smith and Son, of Witham. It is most fortunate that the office was completed in time for the Christmas business, because the temporary office would have been of very little use.
From: Essex Herald 15 December 1896, p. 8
On Tuesday morning the splendid new Post-office in High-street, to the use of which the inhabitants of Braintree and Bocking have long looked forward, was opened to the public. The new building stands upon the site of the old office, but between the two there is no comparison in the matter of convenience and comfort, both as regards the public and the office staff. The new Post-office is a conspicuous and commanding building, having a frontage of 33 feet and running up to a height of about 40 feet. The front is of white brick ornamented with panels of fancy red brickwork, for which Mr. James Brown's brickyards at Braintree are famous, and which give the facade a distinctive feature. In the centre, between the two ground floor windows, is placed a clock, by Messrs. Parkes Bros., surrounded by a design in stone. There are two large entrances to the building, one at either side, that to the east, and nearest the Corn Exchange, being for the public, and the other for the staff. At the public entrance there is a lobby opening into the office by two swing doors with glass panelling. The public office is a spacious compartment, paved with wood blocks, and fitted up in the most approved fashion. The telegraphic office is to the front and from it a broad and handsome counter with mahogany top runs the remaining entire length of the public office. For the use of the staff there are numerous cupboards, pigeon-holes, etc. and the tills are elaborately made for the special use to which they are they are put. At the end of the office is a telegraph desk, with three partitions, for the use of the public. The lofty ceiling is surrounded by a pretty cornice in plaster. Adjoining the public office, and just under the other front window, is the postmaster’s office, which is very conveniently placed for supervising the business of the whole establishment. At the rear of the public office and separated from it by a sliding glass-panelled door is the sorting office, which is 32 feet long and 17 feet wide. It has a gable roof, fitted with a large lantern light. This office, like the public department, is exceedingly well-lighted. Besides the usual offices there are lavatories fitted with hot and cold water. The fittings of the offices which are of the latest pattern and made of pitch pine, which gives them a light and pleasing appearance. These certainly do the Educational Supply Association, who made them, much credit. The offices are warmed with hot water apparatus and in the front office incandescent gas lights are provided. The upper storeys of the building form the private residence of the postmaster. The rooms and staircases are well-lighted and ventilated, and conveniently arranged, thereby giving the postmaster a private entrance to the public office and to the street. On the west-side a wide passage runs under the building to the sorting office, where the mails are receiving and despatched. Every inch of the site has been used to the best advantage, and nothing is left out that could be desired either by the public or the Post-office staff. With this up=to-date, the recently opened sub-office at the east of the town, and the services of the able courteous postmaster, Mr. A. Cocks, the local requirements are now well met, and it is felt that the new and spacious offices is a great boon to the town. The owner of the building, Mr. G.T. Bartram, has taken great personal interest in the work, his object being to satisfy not only the Postal authorities but the public, and the result is an office which is a credit to all concerned. The architect was Mr. J. W. Clarke, of Coggeshall, and the builders were Messrs. Jos. Smith and Son, of Witham. It is most fortunate that the office was completed in time for the Christmas business, because the temporary office would have been of very little use.
