paisley post office
3 County Square
Architect
Walter Robertson Year: 1893 (1912 extension, architect William Oldrieve) Listed building status Grade B Archive sources National Archives WORK 13/473 (extension) Canmore ID 197754 Selected bibliographical references Building News 20 Feb 1891, p. 283; 10 Feb 1893, p. 219 Edinburgh Evening News 7 Feb 1893, p. 4 (Illustration) Glasgow Herald 7 Feb 1893, p. 9 History Opened: 6 Feb 1893 Closed Current use: Public house "The Last Post" |
Building description
From: The Glasgow Herald 6 February 1893, p. 8
The splendid new Post-Office buildings, erected by Government in the County Square, Paisley, are to be formally opened to-night. It is now about two years since the erecting of the building was commenced, the present postal premises in St Mirren Street, though built no farther back than 1876, having during the past few years been altogether inadequate for the' increasing postal work of Paisley. The site chosen for the new premises is a most suitable one, being in the centre of the town, and close to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint-Line Station buildings. In the architecture of the premises the Tudor or Domestic Gothic has been adopted, so as to have the Post-Office somewhat in harmony with the Paisley Station and the Burgh Municipal Buildings adjoining. The new building is in two storeys, and from the ground floor to the ridge of the roof the height is 40ft. The public office, which is 40ft. in length by 22ft., and l5ft. from floor to ceiling, is, of course, on the ground floor of the main building, with the entrances leading off the pavement in the Square. In the public office there is ample accommodation for the public, both as regards the postal and the telegraphic work, and behind the counter of the public office accommodation has been provided for, should the occasion be necessary, the service of twelve clerks. At the north end of the front, or public, office the trunk telephones are to be placed. The postmaster's private room is in the north-east corner of the main building, behind which there is a retiring room for clerks and sorters. At the rear of the public office is the sorting room. This department is 57 feet long by 25 wide. The light is supplied from the roof. A portion of this department, 22 feet by 16, at the south end, abuts to the front of the main building, leading to boxes where letters are to be dropped. The sorting room is fitted up with every convenience for the work to be conducted in it. The batteries and other apparatus belonging to the telegraphic department are to be kept in premises behind the sorting room. The mails will be taken in through an archway at the back of the building, the entrance being next the station, while on the south side a separate entrance has been provided for taking in stores, &c. On the first floor, above the public office, is the telegraph room. It is a commodious apartment, being 54 feet by 22. This is almost four times the size of the telegraph room in the premises in St Mirren Street. It is splendidly lighted from three sides by means of ten large windows. Retiring rooms for telegraph clerks and messengers are also placed on the first floor. The building is heated throughout with steam pipes. Externally the new Post-Office has a very fine appearance, and its internal arrangements have been carried out in accordance with the best methods for the efficient and prompt discharge of postal work. The architect of the building is Mr W. W. Robertson, of H.M. Office of Works, Edinburgh, and the clerk of works was Mr Thomas Ely. The principal contractor was Mr Alexander M'Naughtan, joiner, Paisley …
The splendid new Post-Office buildings, erected by Government in the County Square, Paisley, are to be formally opened to-night. It is now about two years since the erecting of the building was commenced, the present postal premises in St Mirren Street, though built no farther back than 1876, having during the past few years been altogether inadequate for the' increasing postal work of Paisley. The site chosen for the new premises is a most suitable one, being in the centre of the town, and close to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint-Line Station buildings. In the architecture of the premises the Tudor or Domestic Gothic has been adopted, so as to have the Post-Office somewhat in harmony with the Paisley Station and the Burgh Municipal Buildings adjoining. The new building is in two storeys, and from the ground floor to the ridge of the roof the height is 40ft. The public office, which is 40ft. in length by 22ft., and l5ft. from floor to ceiling, is, of course, on the ground floor of the main building, with the entrances leading off the pavement in the Square. In the public office there is ample accommodation for the public, both as regards the postal and the telegraphic work, and behind the counter of the public office accommodation has been provided for, should the occasion be necessary, the service of twelve clerks. At the north end of the front, or public, office the trunk telephones are to be placed. The postmaster's private room is in the north-east corner of the main building, behind which there is a retiring room for clerks and sorters. At the rear of the public office is the sorting room. This department is 57 feet long by 25 wide. The light is supplied from the roof. A portion of this department, 22 feet by 16, at the south end, abuts to the front of the main building, leading to boxes where letters are to be dropped. The sorting room is fitted up with every convenience for the work to be conducted in it. The batteries and other apparatus belonging to the telegraphic department are to be kept in premises behind the sorting room. The mails will be taken in through an archway at the back of the building, the entrance being next the station, while on the south side a separate entrance has been provided for taking in stores, &c. On the first floor, above the public office, is the telegraph room. It is a commodious apartment, being 54 feet by 22. This is almost four times the size of the telegraph room in the premises in St Mirren Street. It is splendidly lighted from three sides by means of ten large windows. Retiring rooms for telegraph clerks and messengers are also placed on the first floor. The building is heated throughout with steam pipes. Externally the new Post-Office has a very fine appearance, and its internal arrangements have been carried out in accordance with the best methods for the efficient and prompt discharge of postal work. The architect of the building is Mr W. W. Robertson, of H.M. Office of Works, Edinburgh, and the clerk of works was Mr Thomas Ely. The principal contractor was Mr Alexander M'Naughtan, joiner, Paisley …