SHERBORNE POST OFFICE AND TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
47 Sheep Street
Photograph © Mike Smith via Geograph and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons licence
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Architect: Archibald Bulloch Year: 1929 Archive sources National Archives: 13/1098 Selected bibliographical references Andrews, D. W. Sherborne: a postal history. Somerset & Dorset Postal History Group, 1987 Western Gazette 9 Sep 1927, p. 4; 6 Dec 1929, p. 5 History Opened: 8 Dec 1929 |
Building description
From: Western Gazette 9 September 1927, p. 4
The contract for the purchase by the Office of Works of premises for Sherborne's new Post-office haas been completed. The premises comprise "Camelot", the residence of Mr. J. Guppy, which is only a few yards above the present Post-office buildings in Cheap-street. Built about 1840, the house has an imposing front in Georgian style, and land behind which will afford ample room for the proposed additions to accommodate the various branches of Post-office work. The work of adaptation is to be by completed June 1929. All the postal work will then be brought together in a self-contained block of buildings, and there will greatly improved staff accommodation. A sorting office, with glass roof, will erected at the back of the existing building. at the end of which will be clerks' and postmen's retiring rooms, and a store-room. Above the sorting-office will be the telephone switchroom, with retiring-rooms for the telephonists and female staff. One of the two existing rooms will made to include the space now occupied the present entrance, and will become the counter department. It will be about equal in size to the corresponding department at the present office, and of the standard size for an office of the type. On the other side will the instrument-room for telegraphic work. The Postmaster's room will also on the ground floor, instead of the first floor as in the old building. There will also be accommodation for the writing staff, and much-improved acon commodation for the caretaker-operator, who lives the premises. An important feature from the point of view of public convenience will the erection of kiosk immediately outside the building for telephone calls after office hours. At present those who wish to use the public telephone have to summon the caretaker and gain admission. At the end the yard will be an engineering-room, and garage to accommodate six cars. At present the Postoffice lias four vans for delivery in country districts, and these have to garaged away from the office. The new offices will be as up-to-date in every way as any of similar size and type in the country.
From: Western Gazette 9 September 1927, p. 4
The contract for the purchase by the Office of Works of premises for Sherborne's new Post-office haas been completed. The premises comprise "Camelot", the residence of Mr. J. Guppy, which is only a few yards above the present Post-office buildings in Cheap-street. Built about 1840, the house has an imposing front in Georgian style, and land behind which will afford ample room for the proposed additions to accommodate the various branches of Post-office work. The work of adaptation is to be by completed June 1929. All the postal work will then be brought together in a self-contained block of buildings, and there will greatly improved staff accommodation. A sorting office, with glass roof, will erected at the back of the existing building. at the end of which will be clerks' and postmen's retiring rooms, and a store-room. Above the sorting-office will be the telephone switchroom, with retiring-rooms for the telephonists and female staff. One of the two existing rooms will made to include the space now occupied the present entrance, and will become the counter department. It will be about equal in size to the corresponding department at the present office, and of the standard size for an office of the type. On the other side will the instrument-room for telegraphic work. The Postmaster's room will also on the ground floor, instead of the first floor as in the old building. There will also be accommodation for the writing staff, and much-improved acon commodation for the caretaker-operator, who lives the premises. An important feature from the point of view of public convenience will the erection of kiosk immediately outside the building for telephone calls after office hours. At present those who wish to use the public telephone have to summon the caretaker and gain admission. At the end the yard will be an engineering-room, and garage to accommodate six cars. At present the Postoffice lias four vans for delivery in country districts, and these have to garaged away from the office. The new offices will be as up-to-date in every way as any of similar size and type in the country.
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Updated: 10 January 2016
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