BANBURY POST OFFICE

49-50 High Street

Photograph © Julian Osley

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​Architect: Henry Seccombe
Year: 1936
Selected bibliographical references
Banbury Advertiser 12 Dec 1935, p. 1; 3 Dec 1936, p. 12; 17 Dec 1936, p. 12-13 (illustrated) 
History
Opened: 15 Dec 1936
Closed
Current use: Public house 
Built on the site of the previous post office of 1877

Building description
From: Banbury Advertiser 17 December 1936, p. 12

... On Tuesday came the completion of the reconstruction scheme, when this fine new building was opened by Colonel A. Henage, Parliamentary Secretary to the Postmaster-General. In order to preserve the architectural traditions of Banbury considerable attention has been given to the elevational treatment of the new Post Office which has been designed in the late Renaissance style ... The new Post Office will stand as a monument to the skill and craftsmanship of a local firm, and Messrs. Bloxham and Hardy may well pride themselves on a great achievement. The new building is a rectangular three-storied structure with public and administrative offices on on the ground floor, postmaster’s and clerical staff rooms the first floor, and women’s staff and welfare rooms on the second and attic floors. The main front to High Street is faced with Bath stone from the Hartham Park Quarries, the public entrance being featured with stone pilasters and carved caps of the Corinthian order surmounted by entablature and pediment. The windows are hardwood sliding sashes, those at second floor level being framed as dormers with timber surrounds and pediments set in the tiled mansard roof which springs from the stone cornice ...  In the construction of the public office the walls are of brickwork, the floors being in concrete and steel. The mansard roof is framed in timber. With regard to the scheme of internal treatment, the public office joinery. counter and dado is carried out in mahogany and set off with bronze fittings; the floor is in ornamental tiles bordered with a band and fret design, the walls and ceilings being plastered and picked out in distinctive colours. The Postmaster's and public enquiry rooms are decorated and furnished a style suitable for their purposes. The scheme furnishings in the administrative and welfare rooms [are] of a simple and utilitarian character ... The architect responsible for the design and construction of the Post Office and Telephone Exchange is Mr H.E. Seccombe, A.R.I.B.A, of H.M. Office of Works.