BILLERICAY POST OFFICE
136 High Street
Architect: Frank Cloux
Year: 1938 Archive sources British Post Office Museum & Archive: Billericay Portfolio File (photograph) Selected bibliographical references Essex Chronicle 7 Oct 1938, p. 12 History Opened: 6 Oct 1938 Closed Current use: Royal Mail Delivery Office Building description From: Essex Chronicle 7 October 1938, p. 12 Yesterday, the new Post-office at Billericay was formally opened by Mr. J. H. Ford, chairman of the Billericay Urban Council. The new building, erected to meet the increasing postal demands of the district, has been designed on simple traditional lines to harmonise with its surroundings. The front block contains the public office and Postmaster's room on the ground floor, and women's welfare and store rooms on the first floor. At the rear is a single storey building housing a sorting office, and the male staff retiring rooms are approached through the sorting office. The Post-office is set back some 10 feet behind the buildings on either side, forming a forecourt which is paved with stone and flanked with brick walls. The facade to High Street is divided into three bays in which are circular headed openings, two of which are filled in with large windows lighting the public office, while the remaining one contains the public entrance. The centre window contains the clock and posting-box, and in the brick piers between the openings are stamp vending machines and the noticeboard. The bricks are local and provide a pleasing variety of tone; brighter bricks are used in the dressings around the windows, arches, string course, etc. The plinth to the building is polished granite, which is also used as surround to the main entrance. The public office is rectangular, and well lit. for in addition to the windows to the High Street, the back portion, has lens ceiling lights. The office is panelled to the height of the counter top in mahogany of a rich brown tone as is the remainder of the joinery. All fittings have been let flush into the wall to avoid dust and dirt and this aim has been further assisted by the provision of coved angles at the junction of the panelling with the mosaic floor; and flush heating panels in the ceiling instead of radiators. The floor is of ceramic mosaic, and has a buff coloured ground with a simple green border; which scheme is also carried out in the entrance vestibule, which is panelled in its full height in English oak. Two telephone silence cabinets are provided, one inside the public office and the other one outside. The architect for the building was Mr. F. L W. Cloux, M.B.E., A.R.1.B A., of H.M. Office of Works; and Messrs Harris Bros, of Billericay. were the contractors. At the opening ceremony. Mr. E. F. Nunns, surveyor of the Eastern District, briefly described the building. Mr. Ford sent the first telegram addressed to the Postmaster-General expressing the town's thanks, and Mrs. J. H. Ford purchased the first stamp. Mr. J. G. Eden, head postmaster of Brentwood, voiced thanks to Mr and Mrs Ford. The company present inspected the new building, after which tea was served … |