Rotherham Post Office (1907)

ROTHERHAM POST OFFICE (1907)

22 Main Street

Postcard view

Architect: Walter Pott
Year: 1907
Archive sources
National Archives: WORK 13/197; 69/6 (photograph)
Selected bibliographical references
Builder 16 Mar 1907, p. 338
Sheffield Independent 9 Mar 1907, p. 5
History
Opened: 9 Mar 1907
Closed
Current use: Office accommodation

Building description
From Sheffield Independent 9 March 1907, p. 5

The new post office in Rotherham erected by the Government from plans prepared by Mr W. Pott, A.R.I.B.A. of His Majesty's Office of Works, will be formally opened today ... The site formerly belinged to the Corporation and is ion the corner of Market-street and Main-street, On an average it is 24ft below the street level, which necessitated a large amount of building woek in the basement. The external aspect of the structure appears somewhat stunted, but it has been so designed that at any future time, when the extension of business demands, another storey can be added. There is exquisite stone carving on pediments over the two principal entrances, the carving in both instances representing the Royal Arms with appropriate scroll work. The arms of the borough of Rotherham have also a place in the decorative carving, each of the four quarters being shown on separate pilasters along the front. The public entrance is from Main-street, and a convenience new to Rotherham will be an inside posting box. Better accommodation is also to be provided for dealing with telegrams, and a pneumatic tube introduced for the transference of messages to the instrument room on the second floor. The telegrams received will also be conveyed by pneumatic to the messengers' room on the ground floor. The sorting room is the largest department in the building, and is 78ft by 35ft 6in., and is overlooked by a watching gallery, from which any part may be seen without those who are watched knowing it. Besides these arrangements for receiving and sorting and despatching letters and telegrams, there are on the ground floor the chief clerk's office, accommodation for the storage of messengers' bicycles, etc. The approach to the upper floor is by substantial stone steps. On the first floor are the postmaster's, the telephone, and the telegraph instrument rooms and a retiring room for female clerks, and on the second floor there are store, male clerks' retiring, battery, and telegraph linesmen's rooms. The basement has plenty of space for postal stores and for the heating apparatus, etc., and a room has been provided here for the postmen. The office is lighted throughout with electricity. Every floor is amply furnished and the sanitary arrangements are excellent. The erection of the new buildings has occupied about two years ... the premises will be opened for public business on Monday next ... The new post office is a pleasing addition to the improvements of the town in recent years.