BURNLEY POST OFFICE (1905)
27 Hargreaves Street
Photography © Julian Osley
|
Architect: William Oldrieve Year: 1905 Listed building status: Grade II Archive sources British Postal Museum & Archive: Burnley Portfolio File (photograph); POST 118/6257 National Archives WORK 13/128; 69/6 Selected bibliographical references Burnley Express 1 Apr 1903, p. 3 (illustration); 6 May 1905, p. 7 (illustration) Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 8 May 1905, p. 10 History Opened: 8 May 1905 Closed: 23 Apr 2014 Current use: Awaiting re-use (Sep 2015) |
Building description
From: Burnley Gazette 6 May 1905, p .7
The new post office buildings in Hargreaves-street, the erection of which, by Messrs. Neill and Sons, of Manchester, was commenced about two years ago, are now practically complete, and it is expected the staff will take possession of them to-morrow (Sunday). On Monday, it is anticipated, work will be in full swing in the new premises, which insofar regards external and internal beauty, comfort, and convenience, leave little if anything to be desired. Viewing the buildings from the street, several people have come to the conclusion that the windows are too small to adequately illuminate the various rooms, but this is an erroneous impression. The windows are as they are, because any other style would clash with the architecture of the building, and the lighting in every sense adequate. On Thursday, through the kindness of Mr. Tuckett, the Burnley Postmaster, local press representatives were afforded the opportunity of inspecting the buildings in every part. The public entrance in Hargreaves-street, is almost in the centre of the building, and leads into large well-lighted room, with a white plaster ceiling, stone-colour distempered walls, and mosaic floor. The furnishing is in teak and mahogany, there is a letter-box in the wall in addition to that in the street, in addition a telephone cabinet will installed shortly, and the general appearance the room — and this can said all the rooms — is most inviting. From this central hall, there is ready access to Mr Tuckett's office, the chief clerk's room, and the sorting office, which latter is a most spacious apartment fitted with everything calculated to further the rapid transaction of postal business. There are twelve sorting tables, sorting compartments for newspapers and book packets, a stamping table improved pattern, etc., whilst the lower end of the room is set apart for the postmen. The registered letter department in this room ... In the basement also are storerooms, apparatus for heating the building with hot water, and what are known the "cable heads" also run into this part of the building. The first floor over that on the level of the street, contains the telegraph instrument room. Here come in the overhead and underground cables, and here also are situated the telephone testing boxes. Adjacent are retiring rooms for telegraph and telephone operators, a room for males, a room for the superintendents, and various store rooms. The third floor is given over battery, stores, superintendent, engineer’s office, etc., and on the fourth floor are other store rooms. A broad white, stone staircase winds through through the building giving access to each floor. The electric light has been installed in abundance, ample provision has been made for dealing with an outbreak of fire, and, viewed from the point of architecture alone, Burnley has, decidedly, been enriched by the erection of the new offices. In point of convenience, too, the building at present used and the new one cannot be compared ...
From: Burnley Gazette 6 May 1905, p .7
The new post office buildings in Hargreaves-street, the erection of which, by Messrs. Neill and Sons, of Manchester, was commenced about two years ago, are now practically complete, and it is expected the staff will take possession of them to-morrow (Sunday). On Monday, it is anticipated, work will be in full swing in the new premises, which insofar regards external and internal beauty, comfort, and convenience, leave little if anything to be desired. Viewing the buildings from the street, several people have come to the conclusion that the windows are too small to adequately illuminate the various rooms, but this is an erroneous impression. The windows are as they are, because any other style would clash with the architecture of the building, and the lighting in every sense adequate. On Thursday, through the kindness of Mr. Tuckett, the Burnley Postmaster, local press representatives were afforded the opportunity of inspecting the buildings in every part. The public entrance in Hargreaves-street, is almost in the centre of the building, and leads into large well-lighted room, with a white plaster ceiling, stone-colour distempered walls, and mosaic floor. The furnishing is in teak and mahogany, there is a letter-box in the wall in addition to that in the street, in addition a telephone cabinet will installed shortly, and the general appearance the room — and this can said all the rooms — is most inviting. From this central hall, there is ready access to Mr Tuckett's office, the chief clerk's room, and the sorting office, which latter is a most spacious apartment fitted with everything calculated to further the rapid transaction of postal business. There are twelve sorting tables, sorting compartments for newspapers and book packets, a stamping table improved pattern, etc., whilst the lower end of the room is set apart for the postmen. The registered letter department in this room ... In the basement also are storerooms, apparatus for heating the building with hot water, and what are known the "cable heads" also run into this part of the building. The first floor over that on the level of the street, contains the telegraph instrument room. Here come in the overhead and underground cables, and here also are situated the telephone testing boxes. Adjacent are retiring rooms for telegraph and telephone operators, a room for males, a room for the superintendents, and various store rooms. The third floor is given over battery, stores, superintendent, engineer’s office, etc., and on the fourth floor are other store rooms. A broad white, stone staircase winds through through the building giving access to each floor. The electric light has been installed in abundance, ample provision has been made for dealing with an outbreak of fire, and, viewed from the point of architecture alone, Burnley has, decidedly, been enriched by the erection of the new offices. In point of convenience, too, the building at present used and the new one cannot be compared ...
