taunton post office
38 North Street
Photograph © Sarah Smith via Geograph and licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons licence
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Architect
John Rutherford Year 1911 Listed building status Grade II Archive sources National Archives WORK 13/359; 69/6 (photograph) Selected bibliographical references Builder 11 Sep 1909, p. 296 Taunton Courier 8 Mar 1911, p. 3 History Opened: 19 Mar 1911 Closed: 2014 Current use: Awaiting redevelopment |
Building description
From: Taunton Courier 8 Mar 1911, p. 3
There have been many great improvements carried out in the principal streets of Taunton, quite a number of buildings having been either re-built or re-constructed, and there are others still in contemplation, which should still further add to the appearance of the centre of town. The latest of these, which is now almost complete, is the new Post-office, which occupies one of the most prominent positions in town, and will prove great public convenience. The present office at the corner of Hammet-street, opposite St. Mary’s Church tower, is hidden away that visitors to the town experienced great difficulty in locating it, but when the new but when the new office is open, which we are officially informed will take place on Sunday, the 19th inst., it will be next to impossible for a stranger to make the journey from the railway station to the Parade, and vice-versa without noticing the Post-office ... The lower part is a white stone, while the top part is of red brick. A departure has been made from the original plans in that stone coigns have been introduced at various points, these adding much to the general appearance of the edifice. When the plans were first laid before the Taunton Town Council an expression of opinion was forthcoming that the utilisation of red bricks did not make the facade sufficiently imposing for a building in the main street. Overtures to the postal authorities resulted in the reception of a refusal to alter the plans, but the Council was informed that a continuation of the stone for the first and second floors would be provided if the Council paid the cost, some £150. This the Corporation refused to entertain, but only recently they contributed £10 towards a bracket clock, which the townspeople are erecting at a cost of some £60 and which will be electrically lighted and controlled ... The interior of the premises is very commodious, and perfectly adapted for the increased business which is now transacted. The building faces due west, and the public can enter by double doors at the north and south, and from lobbies proceed left or right into the public office, where will be carried on the sale of stamps, postal orders, etc. The public office is lighted by five windows, which extend the length of the west wall and immediately beneath these are the desks for people to use for writing telegrams. In the centre of each desk is inlaid a piece of bard glass, which prevents the pressure of hard pencil making indentations. The counter, with its wire screens, runs the whole length of this spacious room, which measures 36ft by 30ft. Four windows on the north side overlook the entrance to the yard. A post-box into the same letter basket as from outside is fitted up between the desks. Near the south entrance is the telephone silence chambers, and others, we are informed, are to be added to meet the requirements of the public. The telegraph messages are conveyed to the operating room by means of an air pump. Immediately behind the public office is a room in which the telegraph messengers will wait, this being provided with a large cooking range, suitable tables, and benches, and a spacious wash-up. The telegraph messages are conveyed to the operating room by means of an air pump. Immediately behind the public office is a room in which the telegraph messengers will wait, this being provided with a large cooking range, suitable tables, and benches, and a spacious wash-up. This room measures 20 by 16. Directly in the rear of this is the postmen’s sorting office, which is 80 feet long and 28 feet wide. The employees will work under the best of conditions, lighting being by skylights and windows, and the ventilation perfect every way. This room measures 20 by 16. Directly in the rear of this is the postmen’s sorting office, which is 80 feet long and 28 feet wide. The employees will work under the best of conditions, lighting being by skylights and windows, and the ventilation perfect every way. A compartment, 12 by eight, the west end, is for the reception of registered letters. An ominous looking line of dull painted glass near the ceiling the west end is the front of watch chambers from which an official, through minute holes, will be able to carry out a system of espionage if occasion should arise. The watcher’s presence could not ascertained from the sorting room. At the extreme east end, behind tbe sorting-room, are a postmen’s kitchen, store-rooms, engineers’-room, linemen's-room. linemen's store, cart sheds, telegraph messengers’ cycle shed, and lavatories. A lift, manipulated by hand power, serves each floor, but is only for the carriage of goods. Mounting substantially-built stairs, with wire guards on balustrades to prevent articles falling ever, the visitor arrives on the first floor. The Postmaster’s room, 15ft. by 19ft., is lighted by the two windows over the south door. Tho chief clerk’s room is next, and is lighted by three windows looking into North-street, the dimensions of this room being 21ft. by 15ft. The other front room will utilised a stationery store. On this floor the night attendant’s room, which looks out on the courtyard (north), while on the opposite corridor the testing-room. The second or top floor contains the telegraph instrument-room, which is 30ft by 20ft. in dimension, and from this department the messages will be despatched on some dozen instruments, having been received from the public office through the pneumatic tube. Tbe telephone room adjoining is slightly larger and will, if not immediately, necessitate the employment for the first time in the Taunton Post-office of female labour as telephone operators. A women’s retiring-room has accordingly been provided on this floor 14ft. by 16ft., with similar cooking range to those in the other departments and the usual offices. Although the whole building is so constructed to be rendered almost fire-on proof those employed this floor are provided with an emergency exit, leading directly into the passage on north side of the building by means of an iron balcony and ladder. The basement contains the boiler-house, coal and cokehouses, a power-room, and a battery room, fitted with wash-up for cleansing purposes. Mail carts, etc., will reach the rear of the premises through the archway on the extreme north, which is a common entrance to the Post-office premises and those at the rear of and belonging the Half Moon Inn. The contract for the building was secured and carried out by Messrs. Pollard and Son, of Bridgwater ... As far as is known at present there will be no official opening, and business will be commenced at the new office without formality on the 19th instant.
From: Taunton Courier 8 Mar 1911, p. 3
There have been many great improvements carried out in the principal streets of Taunton, quite a number of buildings having been either re-built or re-constructed, and there are others still in contemplation, which should still further add to the appearance of the centre of town. The latest of these, which is now almost complete, is the new Post-office, which occupies one of the most prominent positions in town, and will prove great public convenience. The present office at the corner of Hammet-street, opposite St. Mary’s Church tower, is hidden away that visitors to the town experienced great difficulty in locating it, but when the new but when the new office is open, which we are officially informed will take place on Sunday, the 19th inst., it will be next to impossible for a stranger to make the journey from the railway station to the Parade, and vice-versa without noticing the Post-office ... The lower part is a white stone, while the top part is of red brick. A departure has been made from the original plans in that stone coigns have been introduced at various points, these adding much to the general appearance of the edifice. When the plans were first laid before the Taunton Town Council an expression of opinion was forthcoming that the utilisation of red bricks did not make the facade sufficiently imposing for a building in the main street. Overtures to the postal authorities resulted in the reception of a refusal to alter the plans, but the Council was informed that a continuation of the stone for the first and second floors would be provided if the Council paid the cost, some £150. This the Corporation refused to entertain, but only recently they contributed £10 towards a bracket clock, which the townspeople are erecting at a cost of some £60 and which will be electrically lighted and controlled ... The interior of the premises is very commodious, and perfectly adapted for the increased business which is now transacted. The building faces due west, and the public can enter by double doors at the north and south, and from lobbies proceed left or right into the public office, where will be carried on the sale of stamps, postal orders, etc. The public office is lighted by five windows, which extend the length of the west wall and immediately beneath these are the desks for people to use for writing telegrams. In the centre of each desk is inlaid a piece of bard glass, which prevents the pressure of hard pencil making indentations. The counter, with its wire screens, runs the whole length of this spacious room, which measures 36ft by 30ft. Four windows on the north side overlook the entrance to the yard. A post-box into the same letter basket as from outside is fitted up between the desks. Near the south entrance is the telephone silence chambers, and others, we are informed, are to be added to meet the requirements of the public. The telegraph messages are conveyed to the operating room by means of an air pump. Immediately behind the public office is a room in which the telegraph messengers will wait, this being provided with a large cooking range, suitable tables, and benches, and a spacious wash-up. The telegraph messages are conveyed to the operating room by means of an air pump. Immediately behind the public office is a room in which the telegraph messengers will wait, this being provided with a large cooking range, suitable tables, and benches, and a spacious wash-up. This room measures 20 by 16. Directly in the rear of this is the postmen’s sorting office, which is 80 feet long and 28 feet wide. The employees will work under the best of conditions, lighting being by skylights and windows, and the ventilation perfect every way. This room measures 20 by 16. Directly in the rear of this is the postmen’s sorting office, which is 80 feet long and 28 feet wide. The employees will work under the best of conditions, lighting being by skylights and windows, and the ventilation perfect every way. A compartment, 12 by eight, the west end, is for the reception of registered letters. An ominous looking line of dull painted glass near the ceiling the west end is the front of watch chambers from which an official, through minute holes, will be able to carry out a system of espionage if occasion should arise. The watcher’s presence could not ascertained from the sorting room. At the extreme east end, behind tbe sorting-room, are a postmen’s kitchen, store-rooms, engineers’-room, linemen's-room. linemen's store, cart sheds, telegraph messengers’ cycle shed, and lavatories. A lift, manipulated by hand power, serves each floor, but is only for the carriage of goods. Mounting substantially-built stairs, with wire guards on balustrades to prevent articles falling ever, the visitor arrives on the first floor. The Postmaster’s room, 15ft. by 19ft., is lighted by the two windows over the south door. Tho chief clerk’s room is next, and is lighted by three windows looking into North-street, the dimensions of this room being 21ft. by 15ft. The other front room will utilised a stationery store. On this floor the night attendant’s room, which looks out on the courtyard (north), while on the opposite corridor the testing-room. The second or top floor contains the telegraph instrument-room, which is 30ft by 20ft. in dimension, and from this department the messages will be despatched on some dozen instruments, having been received from the public office through the pneumatic tube. Tbe telephone room adjoining is slightly larger and will, if not immediately, necessitate the employment for the first time in the Taunton Post-office of female labour as telephone operators. A women’s retiring-room has accordingly been provided on this floor 14ft. by 16ft., with similar cooking range to those in the other departments and the usual offices. Although the whole building is so constructed to be rendered almost fire-on proof those employed this floor are provided with an emergency exit, leading directly into the passage on north side of the building by means of an iron balcony and ladder. The basement contains the boiler-house, coal and cokehouses, a power-room, and a battery room, fitted with wash-up for cleansing purposes. Mail carts, etc., will reach the rear of the premises through the archway on the extreme north, which is a common entrance to the Post-office premises and those at the rear of and belonging the Half Moon Inn. The contract for the building was secured and carried out by Messrs. Pollard and Son, of Bridgwater ... As far as is known at present there will be no official opening, and business will be commenced at the new office without formality on the 19th instant.
