HULL POST OFFICE (1909)
Lowgate
Architect: Walter Pott
Year: 1909 Listed building status: Grade II Archive sources National Archives: WORK 13/201, 202, 227 Selected bibliographical references Builder 7 Apr 1906, p. 382; 26 Jun 1909, p.766 Builders' Journal and Architectural Engineer 2 May 1906, p. 235 (+ illustration, plan)(here attributed to William Oldrieve) Hull Daily Mail 16 Feb 1904, p. 2; 28 Mar 1906, p. 4 (illustrated); 8 Jun 1909, p. 6; 21 Jul 1909, p. 4 (illustration); 22 Jul 1909, p. 6 History Opened: 22 Jul 1909 Closed Current use: Mixed use development Supplementary information: At the banquet to celebrate the opening of the new post office, turtle soup was served. The shells of the turtles bore the couplets: A turtle proud, I am, you know to entertain the GPO and What more could turtle wish to be Than soup for the great P.M.G. This building replaced the premises in Market Place. Major extensions to this offices were made in 1930 and 1952. Incident at the opening ceremony From Hull Daily Mail 22 Jul 1909, p. 6 Hull's new post was opened with impressiveness and dignity by the Postmaster-General, the Right Hon-Sydney Buxton, M.P. a few minutes after noon to-day. The Postmaster-General arrived in Hull, the train reaching Paragon Station at 25 on Wednesday evening from Marylebone, London. The time of the arrival had been kept secret, and consequently there was no crowd to welcome him. Mr Buxton is the guest of Mr T. R. Ferens, M.P., who met him on arrival. There were also on the platform the Mayor and Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs Feldman), the Hull Postmaster (Mr Dowling), the Chief Constable (Major Malcolm), Superintendent Chapman, Inspector Dickinson, and a number of police officers in private clothes. The commercial interests and the civic authorities of Hull combined to give to the occasion, which, was an important one in the annals of Hull. The new post office is necessity of the times, owing to the growing needs of the port, and the chairman of the Hull Chamber of Commerce (Mr J. H. Fisher, J.P.), and the Mayor (Alderman Feldman) acted in happy cooperation to make the occasion an imposing one. Whether it was the presence of a Cabinet Minister to open the Post Office, or the expectation that the Suffragettes would cause a little incidental excitement molesting Mir Buxton, there was a large crowd in the vicinity of the Town Hall ... An open square was kept at the Lowgate frontage by the mounted police, and the officer at the three sides had strict orders to look out for "Votes for Women" ladies. Punctually at 12.15 the Corporation procession, making a show of colour on a dour day with the fur-trimmed red and blue gowns, had emerged from the Town Hall, and soon covered the distance to the front of the building. At the psychological moment, as Buxton was approaching the main entrance, a Suffragette wearing a long light mackintosh, ran forward. She was within a few feet of the Cabinet Minister when two constables seized her. There was a momentary struggle, in which the flushed frail form swayed to and fro, some of the crowd applauding, and others waxed sarcastic. Quickly she was hurried off to the Central Police Station and detained, being given seat in the waiting room. Philosophically she commenced to read a newspaper, and seemed to hold no grudge against the police, whom she evidently considered were doing their duty. Any number of inquirers wanted to know who the lady was, and the persistency of this leader of the suffragettes will gauged when it is mentioned that it was Miss Marsh, who, to speak, was on parole, for she had been previously locked in a waiting room at the Riverside Quay. She is the organiser in Yorkshire the Women's Social and Political League, and is stationed in Leeds. As for Mr Buxton, he appeared quite unperturbed, and smiled faintly at the little incident as he proceeded to open the main door. Mr Buxton is evidently a good deal of a humorist, judging from his subsequent remarks, and after a long political career was not likely to be disturbed ... The Mayor conducted the Postmaster-General to the main entrance of granite, and in a clear voice Mr Buxton said: "I have great pleasure in declaring the new Hull Post Office now open." Whereupon a feminine voice exclaimed "Votes for Women," and the applause for the Postmaster-General was mingled with laughter at the interjection. Inside the Post Office. The door having been opened, the visitors - the most representative gathering - trooped into the: building, finding themselves in the handsome office. It was observed that not one lady was present, the order having been given that none should be admitted ... |
Building description
From: Hull Daily Mail 8 Jun 1909, p. 6
The new Post Office at Hull, which, it is anticipated, will be ready for the public by the end of next month, is generally admired. The magnificent building would justify this were it not known that the Hull Post Office, when completed, will the best in every way in the provinces. The postal facilities have grown with the city, and it is not really a far cry to the time when Hull's postal business was carried on at Conservancy Buildings in Whitefriargate. The contrast of that one time Post Office with the huge white building of Portland stone and granite, which now shows elevation to Lowgate and Alfred Gelder-street, with its handsome design—a free treatment of the Renaissance —is too great to contemplate ... Before the new Post Office is completed a considerable amount of interior work has to be done, but the end of next month the contractors for the super-structure (Messrs Arnold and Son, Doncaster) should able to hand over to the postal authorities and the public this commanding, self-contained building, the estimated cost of which, with fittings, was £53,000. Whether the magnificent structure - a distinct addition the buildings of Hull - has been for this sum the concern of tho contractors. Some difficulty, it may be recalled, was experienced with the foundations owing to the nature of the subsoil, and it was necessary to adopt rather unusual method of construction to carry the heavy superstructure. The foundations had, therefore, to be constructed on the Hennebique ferro-concrete system, concrete piles being used, and concrete slab with beams and retaining walls carried upon the piles. The building takes the place of the office in Market-place, the postal business being removed there in 1877. which is now quite inadequate to meet present day requirements. The site upon which the new office has been erected was occupied originally by very old property, and a portion was, in ancient times, the site of Suffolk Palace. Although not completed, a walk through the new building gives an idea of the splendid proportions, the equipment, and general arrangements. The public office is in the centre of the Lowgate frontage, and there are two entrances - one a main entrance. On entering, the public find themselves in a lofty hall of rich, dark marble, the roof supported two massive marble pillars. Facing is the counter of teak, running parallel with wall for distance and then finishing in modified horse shoe curves. Leaded lights give a subdued but good light. The artificial illuminant will supplied by artistic electroliers suspended from the ceiling. The screen above the counter has yet be affixed ; it is to be of most elaborate construction —in keeping with the solidity and magnificance suggested by the interior. Writing compartments of the usual type are ranged along the wall facing the counter; and if visitors' business is on the 'phone, there is a well-appointed public call office adjoining. On departing one will not fail to notice the elaborate carving in teak the doorways, which are quite cathedral-like entrances. On the first floor is a commodious sorting office for letters and parcels, this being said to have an area of about 9,000 superficial feet. Practically all the sorting tables and various "roads" are in position in this large well-lighted hall, which faces on one side Alfred Gelder-street. From the windows can be seen the large courtyard, constructed on the latest principles, for the loading and unloading mails and parcels. The entrance is in Alfred Golder-street. Staircases at either end of the building and two lifts have been provided. On the first floor the postmaster and his staff will be accommodated, a corridor giving access to a number of rooms on either side. A handsome apartment with teak fittings that of the postmaster, and in the same suite of rooms is the accountant's room. Provision has been made in the matter of retiring rooms for the sorting clerks, and the telegraphists and telephonists, who include a number of young women. Dining rooms, with the kitchen accommodation for the staff generally, are included. The telegraphists will able to pride themselves on the finest telegraph room in the provinces. The telegraph instrument is 112 feet long and 40 feet wide, and contains fifteen suitably lighted tables, each capable accommodating five or six instruments. These have yet to be fitted, the workmen at present being engaged in laying the cables in the chases or trenches the floor. The rooms throughout the building, where occupied any considerable number of the staff, are lined with glazed bricks, and the building will be heated throughout with low pressure hot water, radiators having been provided to regulate the heat, in the various rooms. The most up-to-date methods of ventilation have been adopted, and the lighting will by electricity from the Corporation's mains.
From: Hull Daily Mail 8 Jun 1909, p. 6
The new Post Office at Hull, which, it is anticipated, will be ready for the public by the end of next month, is generally admired. The magnificent building would justify this were it not known that the Hull Post Office, when completed, will the best in every way in the provinces. The postal facilities have grown with the city, and it is not really a far cry to the time when Hull's postal business was carried on at Conservancy Buildings in Whitefriargate. The contrast of that one time Post Office with the huge white building of Portland stone and granite, which now shows elevation to Lowgate and Alfred Gelder-street, with its handsome design—a free treatment of the Renaissance —is too great to contemplate ... Before the new Post Office is completed a considerable amount of interior work has to be done, but the end of next month the contractors for the super-structure (Messrs Arnold and Son, Doncaster) should able to hand over to the postal authorities and the public this commanding, self-contained building, the estimated cost of which, with fittings, was £53,000. Whether the magnificent structure - a distinct addition the buildings of Hull - has been for this sum the concern of tho contractors. Some difficulty, it may be recalled, was experienced with the foundations owing to the nature of the subsoil, and it was necessary to adopt rather unusual method of construction to carry the heavy superstructure. The foundations had, therefore, to be constructed on the Hennebique ferro-concrete system, concrete piles being used, and concrete slab with beams and retaining walls carried upon the piles. The building takes the place of the office in Market-place, the postal business being removed there in 1877. which is now quite inadequate to meet present day requirements. The site upon which the new office has been erected was occupied originally by very old property, and a portion was, in ancient times, the site of Suffolk Palace. Although not completed, a walk through the new building gives an idea of the splendid proportions, the equipment, and general arrangements. The public office is in the centre of the Lowgate frontage, and there are two entrances - one a main entrance. On entering, the public find themselves in a lofty hall of rich, dark marble, the roof supported two massive marble pillars. Facing is the counter of teak, running parallel with wall for distance and then finishing in modified horse shoe curves. Leaded lights give a subdued but good light. The artificial illuminant will supplied by artistic electroliers suspended from the ceiling. The screen above the counter has yet be affixed ; it is to be of most elaborate construction —in keeping with the solidity and magnificance suggested by the interior. Writing compartments of the usual type are ranged along the wall facing the counter; and if visitors' business is on the 'phone, there is a well-appointed public call office adjoining. On departing one will not fail to notice the elaborate carving in teak the doorways, which are quite cathedral-like entrances. On the first floor is a commodious sorting office for letters and parcels, this being said to have an area of about 9,000 superficial feet. Practically all the sorting tables and various "roads" are in position in this large well-lighted hall, which faces on one side Alfred Gelder-street. From the windows can be seen the large courtyard, constructed on the latest principles, for the loading and unloading mails and parcels. The entrance is in Alfred Golder-street. Staircases at either end of the building and two lifts have been provided. On the first floor the postmaster and his staff will be accommodated, a corridor giving access to a number of rooms on either side. A handsome apartment with teak fittings that of the postmaster, and in the same suite of rooms is the accountant's room. Provision has been made in the matter of retiring rooms for the sorting clerks, and the telegraphists and telephonists, who include a number of young women. Dining rooms, with the kitchen accommodation for the staff generally, are included. The telegraphists will able to pride themselves on the finest telegraph room in the provinces. The telegraph instrument is 112 feet long and 40 feet wide, and contains fifteen suitably lighted tables, each capable accommodating five or six instruments. These have yet to be fitted, the workmen at present being engaged in laying the cables in the chases or trenches the floor. The rooms throughout the building, where occupied any considerable number of the staff, are lined with glazed bricks, and the building will be heated throughout with low pressure hot water, radiators having been provided to regulate the heat, in the various rooms. The most up-to-date methods of ventilation have been adopted, and the lighting will by electricity from the Corporation's mains.