KIRKCALDY POST OFFICE
Hunter Street
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Architect: Walter Robertson Year: 1902 Selected bibliographical references Dundee Courier 7 May 1902, p. 6 (illustration) Edinburgh Evening News 21 Aug 1900, p. 4 (illustration) Evening Telegraph 26 May 1902, p. 5 History Opened: 26 May 1902 Closed Current use: Hotel ("Auld Post Hotel") |
Building description
From: Dundee Courier 7 May 1902, p. 6
The architectural features of the "Lang Toon" have been considerably enhanced by the erection of the new Post Office, which is in course of completion, and is to be opened on Monday, May 26. The building ... has been erected immediately at the west end of Hunter Street, where the street curves round to Wemyssfield. The building occupies the north side of Hunter Street, the upper portion running back from the line of the main building. The block of offices is over 150 feet in length, and within its walls are to be found all the requisite accommodation for the efficient working of a provincial post office. The one-storey portion the left of the block contains the sorting department, a lofty hall 56 feet long by 32 feet wide, the entrance doorway having a graded incline from the upper gateway for the reception and despatch of the mails/ To the right, and also on the ground floor, is the public office, which is 26 feet by 24 feet, and is a well-appointed department for the convenience of the general public. The postmaster's room is situated midway between these departments. All these rooms are beautifully lighted and ventilated. Retiring rooms for the members of the staff and a telegraph messengers' room, with storage for cycles, are also situated the ground floor ... Upstairs there is the telegraphing room, into which the wires are now being introduced; telephoning room, postmen's retiring room, and a spare room for use in connection with the telegraphic department. In the upper flat there has been fitted up accommodation for a caretaker, to reside on the premises. There is a fine spacious courtyard at the back, which will allow of extension to the sorting department should that be found necessary. Here, also, is the battery room, lavatory accommodation, &c. The interior of the Postmaster's room, public offices, &c., has been painted in stained green, the outer doors being treated in olive green. The heating throughout will be by hot-water pipes, and most of the rooms have also been fitted with fireplaces. The incandescent light will be used throughout the entire building. Tho exterior of the building, which is of white freestone from Grange Quarries, Burntisland, is in the Scottish baronial style, and is finely stugged with scabled facings. The carving, which has been executed by Mr Murdoch, Kirkcaldy, consists of a principal panel, containing the Royal Arms, supported by the Lion and Unicorn, and surmounted by a Royal Crown. The pediment over the public entrance is an ornamented large shield, on which is Imperial Crown, with the Royal Monogram, E.R. VII., the new Post Office being probably one of the earliest Government buildings to have the King's initials carved upon its walls. The pediment is surmounted by conventionally-treated thistle finial. Altogether the building presents substantial and well-finished appearance, and the builders—Messrs George Smith & Sons, Kirkcaldy—no less than the various contractors for the furnishings, have every credit their work. When once Post Office business has been introduced Mr Shannon, postmaster, and his staff of something like sixty employees, will find the conditions much more conducive to their comfort than the present building in High Street, which possesses only the saving grace of being more centrally situated. The architect was Mr Robertson, H.M. Works. Edinburgh, and the work has been efficiently supervised by Mr Hislop, also of H.M. Works ...
