DORKING POST OFFICE AND COUNCIL OFFICES
48 South Street
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Architect: William Shearburn
Year: 1902 Archive sources Dorking Museum & Heritage Centre: MA3 (drawing for proposed new post office and council chamber, 1900) Selected bibliographical references Building News 12 Oct 1900, p. 501 Dorking Advertiser 11 Aug 1900, p. 5; 11 May 1901, p. 6; 17 Aug 1901, p. 4; 19 Apr 1902, p. 5 (illustration) Surrey Mirror 28 Nov 1902, p. 3 History Opened: ?1 Dec 1902 Demolished |
Building description
From: Surrey Mirror 28 November 1902, p. 3
The handsome block of buildings in South-street, Dorking, combining the new Post Office with Council Offices, is so far advanced that the postal authorities are now in occupation, and hope to be able to commence business there Monday next, December Ist. As everyone knows, her Grace Lily Duchess of Marlborough is the owner of the property. When the Urban Council were thwarted in their offices scheme, the inclusion in which of a post office proved an insurmountable obstacle, her Grace with spirited enterprise stepped into the breach and offered to build the premises on her own account. The Council were offered very favourable terms, which they had no hesitation in accepting, and the postal authorities being also satisfied contract was once entered into with Messrs. A. T. Thompson and Co., London, who have not only completed their contract to the entire satisfaction of the architect, Mr. W. J. Shearburn, but have carried out the work expeditiously to enable them to hand over the building to the exact day specified. The buildings form a very handsome block, which, for architectural design, surpasses anything to be seen in the town; indeed, one may safely go further and say that there are few towns in the county which can boast post and Council offices which combine attraction with utility in so marked a degree. Firstly, there are the Post Office buildings. These have double frontage to South-street and Junction-road, the entrance to the public office being the corner. The accommodation consists of: On the ground floor, large public office, postmaster's room, messengers' rooms, lavatories, and a large one-storeyed sorting-room, about 42ft. by 29ft., with side lights and a glazed lantern light for additional light and ventilation. At the lower end of the premises there is a van entrance communicating with the sorting room, which admits of the baskets, etc., being taken direct from the end of the building, thus avoiding any blocking of the traffic into South-street. On the basement floor are the battery room, lavatories, coal and basket stores, etc., separate shed being built for the trucks, barrows, etc. On the first floor are the instrument room, women clerks' retiring room, stores, and lavatories, etc. The furnishing and fitting up of the various rooms and offices has been entrusted to Messrs. Stidolph Bros., of Dartford, whose experience of the requirements of the postal department is a sufficient guarantee that this part of the work will be equally satisfactory ... The building generally is faced with red brick, and Box ground stone dressings and windows, the plinth being of Kentish rag stone.
From: Surrey Mirror 28 November 1902, p. 3
The handsome block of buildings in South-street, Dorking, combining the new Post Office with Council Offices, is so far advanced that the postal authorities are now in occupation, and hope to be able to commence business there Monday next, December Ist. As everyone knows, her Grace Lily Duchess of Marlborough is the owner of the property. When the Urban Council were thwarted in their offices scheme, the inclusion in which of a post office proved an insurmountable obstacle, her Grace with spirited enterprise stepped into the breach and offered to build the premises on her own account. The Council were offered very favourable terms, which they had no hesitation in accepting, and the postal authorities being also satisfied contract was once entered into with Messrs. A. T. Thompson and Co., London, who have not only completed their contract to the entire satisfaction of the architect, Mr. W. J. Shearburn, but have carried out the work expeditiously to enable them to hand over the building to the exact day specified. The buildings form a very handsome block, which, for architectural design, surpasses anything to be seen in the town; indeed, one may safely go further and say that there are few towns in the county which can boast post and Council offices which combine attraction with utility in so marked a degree. Firstly, there are the Post Office buildings. These have double frontage to South-street and Junction-road, the entrance to the public office being the corner. The accommodation consists of: On the ground floor, large public office, postmaster's room, messengers' rooms, lavatories, and a large one-storeyed sorting-room, about 42ft. by 29ft., with side lights and a glazed lantern light for additional light and ventilation. At the lower end of the premises there is a van entrance communicating with the sorting room, which admits of the baskets, etc., being taken direct from the end of the building, thus avoiding any blocking of the traffic into South-street. On the basement floor are the battery room, lavatories, coal and basket stores, etc., separate shed being built for the trucks, barrows, etc. On the first floor are the instrument room, women clerks' retiring room, stores, and lavatories, etc. The furnishing and fitting up of the various rooms and offices has been entrusted to Messrs. Stidolph Bros., of Dartford, whose experience of the requirements of the postal department is a sufficient guarantee that this part of the work will be equally satisfactory ... The building generally is faced with red brick, and Box ground stone dressings and windows, the plinth being of Kentish rag stone.
