BURY ST EDMUNDS POST OFFICE
17-18 Cornhill
Photograph © Keith Evans via Geograph and licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons licence
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Architect: Henry Tanner Year: 1896 (internal reconstruction, 1951) Archive sources National Archives: WORK 69/6 (photograph) Suffolk Record Office: HC526/1-3 Selected bibliographical references Builders' Journal 4 Jun 1895, p. 260-261 Bury and Norwich Post 5 Dec 1893, p. 4; 9 Apr 1895, p. 6 Bury Free Press 23 Nov 1951, p. 10 Fawkes, Leslie G. New lamps for old Post Office Magazine Feb 1952, p. 36-37 History Opened: 27 May 1896 Re-opened after internal reconstruction: 22 May 1951 Closed: 16 Nov 2016 In 1861 the post office in Bury was at 10 the Buttermarket, and customers stood outdoors and handed in letters or bought stamps through a foot square window. A few years later it moved to 24 Abbeygate Street, which was on the corner of Lower Baxter Street, where customers could be accommodated in a proper indoor office. In 1881 there was a need for larger premises, so the Post Office moved to 52 Abbeygate Street, premises formerly used by Gurney's Bank who had moved next door. The next move would wait until 1895. - Text quoted from here |
Building description
From: Bury and Norwich Post and Suffolk Standard 9 April 1895, p. 6
A few facts concerning the new Post Office, in course of construction on the Cornhill, and which it is understood will be completed early next month, may prove interesting to the public of Bury just now, and a visit of inspection to that building, in the company of Mr. W. Cook, the courteous Deputy-Postmaster, enables us to place a description of it before our readers. The new block of buildings will undoubtedly improve the appearance of the Cornhill, over which thoroughfare they have a commanding outlook, but the position can hardly be regarded as so central or generally convenient as that of the present Post Office. The building has a handsome front of red brick, with imposing stone dressings, and and the elaborate carving includes the Royal Arms on the top gable. There are two stories and a basement, aud the whole building is well designed, so far as space will permit. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the architect and contractors have had to face the difficulty of a limited area for their operations, and this circumstance must be taken into consideration in any criticism of the building. Even a glance at the well designed front will show that the ideas of the architect have had to subject themselves to the restriction of limited space so far as width is concerned. With regard to the depth, there ia no fault to be found, the premises running right back into St. Andrews-street, leading from which thoroughfare there will be a yard, where the mail carts will arrive and depart. This will prove a great convenience, and will constitute one of the advantages over the present site, as arriving and departing mails have now to draw up in front of the office, and in a busy thoroughfare. On the ground floor of the Cornhill structure is the public office, which is twenty-seven feet by twenty-five feet, and is a lofty, well-lighted apartment. The floor on the outside of the counter is of red Ruabon tile, and around is a coloured glazed dado, which creates a bright, if novel, effect. There will be eight compartments for writing telegrams, and from the outside there will be two apertures, one for letters and the other for book packets and newspapers. In the general office it will thus be seen that there will be ample accommodation for the public. Inside the great doors are swing glass doors, but in regard to the entrance, it must be confessed that it bears a somewhat cramped appearance, which the steps, perhaps, tend to increase. Behind the counter, the flooring is of wood brick, as is the case throughout tbe remainder of bhe building, which is supplied by Messrs. Roger Lowe and Co., of Bolton. Immediately at the rear of bhe public office is the Postmaster's room, and here, we think, the new structure compares unfavourably with the old, the apartment not being so well lighted or so large. No doubt all available sources of light have been utilised, but the location of the room appears to be unfortunate, and, so far as Mr. Knight, the Postmaster, is personally concerned, he is hardly to be congratulated upon the change of premise,. The office of the Chief Clerk (Mr. W. Cook) will practically lead direct from the last-named room, and both these apartments are situated, as it were, in a corner of the sorting-room. The latter is a fine large aud lofty office, 63 feet by 26 feet, and is well supplied with fresh air inlets, and ventilators to carry off the foul air. It is lighted by six skylights, aud warmed by stoves constructed so as to diffuse heat as widely as possible. This office leads through double doors into a granolithic paved yard, and thence through a wide gateway into St. Andrew's-street. In order to obviate the necessity of having a steep flight of steps in the front of the building, there is a considerable gradient on the first floor, and the result of this is that steps have had to be constructed leading up to the sorting-room from the front office, which must make it awkward for the transit of parcels, &c, from the latter apartment. There is also a retiring-room for postmen, and sanitary arrangements, and in the Bell Arcade, running alongside, there is a private entrance for the officials. On the first floor, immediately over the public office, is the telegraph instrument room, of the same size, and there is a retiring-room for male clerks, and also for telegraph messengers, together with sanitary arrangements. The second floor consists of female clerk's retiring-room, with the caretaker's apartments, store- room, and battery-room. In the latter respect this is an improvement over the Abbeygate-street Office, where the store and battery-rooms are in the basement, and comprise dingy, under- ground cellars. So far as the retiring-rooms are concerned, they appear at present to be a superfluity, as, under the existing system at Bury, they will nob be called into requisition. Where the clerks work in eight hour shifts, as in many places, such rooms are needed, but as this is not the case here, the advantage of them will not be felt. So far as the internal machinery and appliances are concerned, they will be on the same scale as hitherto, but we may add that the whole of the new arrangements are of the most complete and approved kind as regards sanitation, heating, and general accommodation, so that the comfort and convenience of the courteous and obliging staff at the Bury Poat Office appear to be apparently ensured for the future, except in the few respects to which we have alluded. The contractors are Messrs. Everett and Sons, of Colchester, and Mr. H. Tanner, of H.M. Office of Works, is the architect, whilst Mr. J. Gladden, of the same office, is the clerk of the works. The new Post Office will probably be opened about the middle of May.
A few facts concerning the new Post Office, in course of construction on the Cornhill, and which it is understood will be completed early next month, may prove interesting to the public of Bury just now, and a visit of inspection to that building, in the company of Mr. W. Cook, the courteous Deputy-Postmaster, enables us to place a description of it before our readers. The new block of buildings will undoubtedly improve the appearance of the Cornhill, over which thoroughfare they have a commanding outlook, but the position can hardly be regarded as so central or generally convenient as that of the present Post Office. The building has a handsome front of red brick, with imposing stone dressings, and and the elaborate carving includes the Royal Arms on the top gable. There are two stories and a basement, aud the whole building is well designed, so far as space will permit. It is impossible to ignore the fact that the architect and contractors have had to face the difficulty of a limited area for their operations, and this circumstance must be taken into consideration in any criticism of the building. Even a glance at the well designed front will show that the ideas of the architect have had to subject themselves to the restriction of limited space so far as width is concerned. With regard to the depth, there ia no fault to be found, the premises running right back into St. Andrews-street, leading from which thoroughfare there will be a yard, where the mail carts will arrive and depart. This will prove a great convenience, and will constitute one of the advantages over the present site, as arriving and departing mails have now to draw up in front of the office, and in a busy thoroughfare. On the ground floor of the Cornhill structure is the public office, which is twenty-seven feet by twenty-five feet, and is a lofty, well-lighted apartment. The floor on the outside of the counter is of red Ruabon tile, and around is a coloured glazed dado, which creates a bright, if novel, effect. There will be eight compartments for writing telegrams, and from the outside there will be two apertures, one for letters and the other for book packets and newspapers. In the general office it will thus be seen that there will be ample accommodation for the public. Inside the great doors are swing glass doors, but in regard to the entrance, it must be confessed that it bears a somewhat cramped appearance, which the steps, perhaps, tend to increase. Behind the counter, the flooring is of wood brick, as is the case throughout tbe remainder of bhe building, which is supplied by Messrs. Roger Lowe and Co., of Bolton. Immediately at the rear of bhe public office is the Postmaster's room, and here, we think, the new structure compares unfavourably with the old, the apartment not being so well lighted or so large. No doubt all available sources of light have been utilised, but the location of the room appears to be unfortunate, and, so far as Mr. Knight, the Postmaster, is personally concerned, he is hardly to be congratulated upon the change of premise,. The office of the Chief Clerk (Mr. W. Cook) will practically lead direct from the last-named room, and both these apartments are situated, as it were, in a corner of the sorting-room. The latter is a fine large aud lofty office, 63 feet by 26 feet, and is well supplied with fresh air inlets, and ventilators to carry off the foul air. It is lighted by six skylights, aud warmed by stoves constructed so as to diffuse heat as widely as possible. This office leads through double doors into a granolithic paved yard, and thence through a wide gateway into St. Andrew's-street. In order to obviate the necessity of having a steep flight of steps in the front of the building, there is a considerable gradient on the first floor, and the result of this is that steps have had to be constructed leading up to the sorting-room from the front office, which must make it awkward for the transit of parcels, &c, from the latter apartment. There is also a retiring-room for postmen, and sanitary arrangements, and in the Bell Arcade, running alongside, there is a private entrance for the officials. On the first floor, immediately over the public office, is the telegraph instrument room, of the same size, and there is a retiring-room for male clerks, and also for telegraph messengers, together with sanitary arrangements. The second floor consists of female clerk's retiring-room, with the caretaker's apartments, store- room, and battery-room. In the latter respect this is an improvement over the Abbeygate-street Office, where the store and battery-rooms are in the basement, and comprise dingy, under- ground cellars. So far as the retiring-rooms are concerned, they appear at present to be a superfluity, as, under the existing system at Bury, they will nob be called into requisition. Where the clerks work in eight hour shifts, as in many places, such rooms are needed, but as this is not the case here, the advantage of them will not be felt. So far as the internal machinery and appliances are concerned, they will be on the same scale as hitherto, but we may add that the whole of the new arrangements are of the most complete and approved kind as regards sanitation, heating, and general accommodation, so that the comfort and convenience of the courteous and obliging staff at the Bury Poat Office appear to be apparently ensured for the future, except in the few respects to which we have alluded. The contractors are Messrs. Everett and Sons, of Colchester, and Mr. H. Tanner, of H.M. Office of Works, is the architect, whilst Mr. J. Gladden, of the same office, is the clerk of the works. The new Post Office will probably be opened about the middle of May.
