GLASTONBURY POST OFFICE
35 High Street
 Photograph © Bill Nicholls via Geograph and licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons licence |
Architect: Henry Seccombe Year: 1938 Listed building status: Grade II Archive sources British Postal Museum & Archive: 2011-0609 (print) Selected bibliographical references Architectural Design & Construction Feb 1940 Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 20 Aug 1938, p. 21 Post Office Magazine Oct 1938, p.467 Wells Journal 19 Aug 1938, p. 1 Western Daily Press 18 Aug 1938, p. 10 (illustration of opening) History Opened: 17 Aug 1938 |
Building description
From: The Wells Journal Friday 19 August 1938, p. 1
The old Post Office at Glastonbury being inadequate and the site too restricted to meet requirements, a new site in High Street has been acquired and a building erected, which provides a working area of some 8,500 square feet allocated to postal, telephonic and garage accommodation. The new Post Office buildings, which were opened by the Mayor of Glastonbury on Wednesday, have been designed to harmonise with the character of. the historic and ancient town, and the free Gothic style adopted blends suitably with the surrounding architecture. The Post Office is arranged as a two-storyed building fronting the High Street. On the ground floor is the public office and Postmaster’s room, and on the first floor Staff Welfare rooms and stores are provided. In the rear of the Public Office is the Sorting office and at the northern boundary of the site is situated the building for the new Automatic Telephone Exchange. The garage and outbuildings are sited on the eastern side of an open yard, which has an alternative access from the High Street and Archers Way. The High Street entrance to the yard has been treated in a pleasing manner, the oriel window and the carved stone bosses to the Post Office front adding interest to the principal elevation. The latter is faced in selected Bath Stone, executed in snecked rubble with carved ashlar dressings to quoins and openings. Casements generally are of steel. The joinery to the Post Office is of selected oak carried to dado height and matched with counter and features in similar wood. A mosaic floor with heraldic emblems inlaid, and a period cornice at ceiling level are incorporated in the decorative treatment of the Public Office. As regards the finishing in the Sorting Office, Administrative and Staff Rooms, these are of a simple character specially designed to provide for utilitarian requirements. Mr. H. E. Seccombe, of H. M. Office of Works is the architect for the buildings, the panel and general heating systems being carried out to the designs of the Department’s Engineer, Mr. M. P. McLaren. The lighting installation designed by the Post Office Engineering Department has been carried out to harmonise with the Architectural features. In a Post Office, the main consideration is to provide ample light on the counter eliminating any troublesome shadows from the grille and at the same time arrange for sufficient general illumination for the public space and reference tables to give the whole office bright and cheerful aspect. These factors have been carefully considered at Glastonbury; modern standards of illumination have been provided and care has been taken during the construction of the building to conceal entirely all wiring. The heating of the building has also been carried out on similar modern lines, the heating the Public Office being provided mean of panels concealed in the ceiling.
From: The Wells Journal Friday 19 August 1938, p. 1
The old Post Office at Glastonbury being inadequate and the site too restricted to meet requirements, a new site in High Street has been acquired and a building erected, which provides a working area of some 8,500 square feet allocated to postal, telephonic and garage accommodation. The new Post Office buildings, which were opened by the Mayor of Glastonbury on Wednesday, have been designed to harmonise with the character of. the historic and ancient town, and the free Gothic style adopted blends suitably with the surrounding architecture. The Post Office is arranged as a two-storyed building fronting the High Street. On the ground floor is the public office and Postmaster’s room, and on the first floor Staff Welfare rooms and stores are provided. In the rear of the Public Office is the Sorting office and at the northern boundary of the site is situated the building for the new Automatic Telephone Exchange. The garage and outbuildings are sited on the eastern side of an open yard, which has an alternative access from the High Street and Archers Way. The High Street entrance to the yard has been treated in a pleasing manner, the oriel window and the carved stone bosses to the Post Office front adding interest to the principal elevation. The latter is faced in selected Bath Stone, executed in snecked rubble with carved ashlar dressings to quoins and openings. Casements generally are of steel. The joinery to the Post Office is of selected oak carried to dado height and matched with counter and features in similar wood. A mosaic floor with heraldic emblems inlaid, and a period cornice at ceiling level are incorporated in the decorative treatment of the Public Office. As regards the finishing in the Sorting Office, Administrative and Staff Rooms, these are of a simple character specially designed to provide for utilitarian requirements. Mr. H. E. Seccombe, of H. M. Office of Works is the architect for the buildings, the panel and general heating systems being carried out to the designs of the Department’s Engineer, Mr. M. P. McLaren. The lighting installation designed by the Post Office Engineering Department has been carried out to harmonise with the Architectural features. In a Post Office, the main consideration is to provide ample light on the counter eliminating any troublesome shadows from the grille and at the same time arrange for sufficient general illumination for the public space and reference tables to give the whole office bright and cheerful aspect. These factors have been carefully considered at Glastonbury; modern standards of illumination have been provided and care has been taken during the construction of the building to conceal entirely all wiring. The heating of the building has also been carried out on similar modern lines, the heating the Public Office being provided mean of panels concealed in the ceiling.
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Updated: 8 January 2016
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