truro post office
High Cross
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Architect
Silvanus Trevail Year 1886 Archive sources Cornwall Record Office AD396/527, 613; AD436/6 (photograph); Selected bibliographical references Building News 22 Aug 1884, p. 324-325; 27 Nov 1885, p. 849 Perry, Ronald and Harradence, Hazel Silvanus Trevail : Cornish architect and entrepreneur London : Boutle, 2008, p. 49-50 Royal Cornwall Gazette 16 Feb 1883, p. 8; 15 Aug 1884, p. 8; 3 Oct 1884, p. 1; 8 Oct 1886; 17 Dec 1886, p. 8; 24 Dec 1886, p. 7 (report of celebratory supper) History Opened: Dec 1886 Demolished: 1974 |
Building description
From: Royal Cornwall Gazette 15 Aug 1884, p. 8
We are happy to announce that matters are quickly coming to a tangible head in connection with the much discussed new post-office for Truro. As our readers are aware protracted correspondence and negotiations have ensued between the parties concerned with regard to the site, but about three weeks since Mr. S. W. Jenkin, of Liskeard, representing Lord Robartes, met Mr. Trounson, of Penzance, for the corporation of Truro, and arranged finally for the purchase of the corporation portion of the site. Subsequently arrangements were made for the repurchase of some of the frontage of this property, and also property from Lord Robartes for the purpose of a street improvement, throwing open the Cathedral space, by setting back the new building towards the High Cross. The architect, Mr. Trevail, was instructed to proceed with the plans, which are already completed, and comprise a building of two storeys besides the ground floor, standing on the combined sites of the old Unicorn Inn and the three shops between that and Pydar-street. There will be two frontages, one towards Pydar-street, and the other upon the High Cross and facing down King-street. In the latter will be the public entrance through two sets of folding doors and a lobby to the public office, measuring 27 feet 6 inches by 22 feet, and 14 feet in height clear to the ceiling. The main counter will measure 22 feet in length running across the office, and behind this will be a clear space 7 feet wide for the serving clerks, lighted by two very large windows opening upon Pydar and King streets. At the back of the counter a doorway will open into the sorting-office, which measures 54 feet 9 inches by an average breadth of about 21 feet. This apartment will be fitted up with the letter receiving boxes and the usual postal appliances. The space to be occupied by the letter carriers will be projected at the rear beyond the one of the main building, and lighted on the top by means of skylights Here a doorway leads to the back-yard that will be available for storage purposes as well as containing the usual conveniences. To the large workroom of the building there will be independent approaches from both the High Cross and Pydar-street, so that mails and parcels may be taken either way or both ways, as circumstances may require, and in no instance by the entrance used by the public. The entrance from Pydar-street communicates by folding-doors with a spacious hall, in which is placed the stairway leading to the first floor. The latter will be of ample breadth, and well lighted. On this floor will be the telegraph instrument-room, measuring about 21 feet square, communicating with a messenger's waiting-room and a storeroom. The instrument counters will be ranged along the walls overlooking King-street, and a vertical shoot will communicate directly with the receiving counter in the public office below for the incoming messages. Placed next to the instrument room, overlooking the High Cross and Cathedral, is the postmaster's room, measuring about 17 feet square, and fitted with pedestal table, press, &c. This communicates with a private storeroom. Opening upon the back yard is a telegraph battery and storeroom, measuring 15 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 6 inches, also female clerks' retiring room, lavatories, &c, occupying a space of about the same extent as the battery room and stores. The height of this floor is to be 12 feet in the clear. The second floor is not to be finished at present, and will be a provision for the future growth of postal business in the western city. These arrangements have been approved by H.M. Office of Works, upon which devolves the duty of seeing that the postal department is suitably accommodated. In the design made originally for the same site the architect arranged for a postmaster's residence, but this had to be sacrificed to purposes of the strictest economy. The elevations of the present design will be simpler, classic in style, and a great improvement, architecturally, to this part of the city. The main front will overlook King-street and the High Cross, having in bold letters the words "Post-office" over the public entrance, and a clock in the window immediately over the letterbox opening. The returns on each side of the main front are cut off at an angle, and the central portion finishes with a pediment above the second story containing the date, surmounted by the Royal coat of arms, carved in stone. The quoins, pilasters, mouldings, &c, will be of Bath stone, and the body of the walling in either Plymouth limestone or Doublebois slate. The basement up to tbe window bills will be of granite, the Pydar-street front will correspond generally with that towards the Cross in design and materials. The building will be erected by Lord Robartes, represented by Mr. Pearce Jenkin, of Redruth, and the postal authorities will be tenants on lease. The architect is Mr. Silvanus Trevail, of Truro, who has produced what cannot fail to be a most convenient building, and one that will amply meet the postal wants of the city for very many years to come. It is expected that the building will occupy about a year in course of erection.
From: Royal Cornwall Gazette 8 October 1886, p. 4
THE NEW POST-OFFICE AT TRURO. Those who for years have been familiar with Truro cannot fail to notice the great improvements which have been, and are still, taking place within its limits ; but, .perhaps, none are more perceptible than the transforma- tion which has taken place at the Cross. It is, however, more with the new post-office here that we intend to deal. The erection which now replaces the old Unicorn Inn is one of the finest of its kind in the West, and does credit to the architect, Mr. S. Trevail, although one can- not but regret that the Corporation, when going in for an improvement of this kind, did not make it complete by purchasing a few more yards of land, so that the front of the office might have been set back, if not level with tbe existing houses, at all events in such a manner as to have somewhat eased the angle which at present exists. That portion of the building to which the public will have access is the room on the ground floor nearest to Pydar-street. Between the entrance door anil this apart- ment is a spacious lobby, the floor of which will be laid in tiles ; it is surrounded by an artistic screen of pitch- pine, which contains lead lights of Cathedral tinted glass, and gives access to the office by means of two swinging doors. The office is a spacious room, its dimensions being 29 feet by 22. About one half of this space will be allotted to the public, and for the convenience of those having telegraphic business to transact a desk will be erected in front of the corner window. The remainder of the ground floor is devoted entirely to the sorting office, where the principal work of this department will be transacted. The room is much larger than the adjoining one, and is lit by three windows— two in front, and one in the rear— and a large lantern light. In order to prevent damage being done to the wallaby the parcels post baskets a dado of Portland cement takes the place of the ordinary plastering for a height of five feet from the floor. The chief clerk will have an office in this room. Access is gained to tbe upper storeys by means of a broad staircase, wliich deserves more than a mere reference, because of the excellence and artistic beauty of the joinery work, which here, as throughout the building, is done in pitch-pine. On the first floor will be tlie postmaster's office — a spacious apartment overlooking both King-street and Pydar-street. In the rear of the building on the same floor is another sorting room, in which the letter carriers will do their work. The general sorting having been done in the lower office, the letters will be conveyed to the upper room by means of a lift, where they will be assorted into districts by the respective postmen. Adjoining this room is a smaller one, which is set apart for the letter carriers. The principal apartment on the third and top storey is that set apart for telegraphy. This is one of the largest rooms in the bulling, and is lit by four win- dows—two overlooking Pydar-street, and two King- street. The wires will be conveyed to this room from the Pydar-street lobby on the ground floor, where they have been received from the underground pipes in an iron box. The telegraph messengers have a retiring room — similar to that of the postmen — adjoining the telegraph office, with which they will have communication through a small trap door. The telegraph engineers have a room on this floor, fitted with all the necessary appliances for cleansing the batteries, _c, and there is also a special retiring room, with lavatory, set apart for lady clerks. The sanitary and ventilating arrangements have received • special attention ; water is laid on from the Water Com- pany's main to'the upper floor ; several ventilating shafts run from tbe bottom to the top of the building, and in addition to this, the principal rooms have been supplied with special ventilators, which have communication with the chimney. The whole of the joinery has been carried out by Mr. William Tippett who has performed his con- tract in a manner which has commanded the approbation of all who have inspected the work. The same remarks apply to the builders, Messrs. M. and J. Clemens. The contract for the whole of the internal fittings has been let to Messrs. Olver and Sons, of Falmouth. Six weeks is the time stipulated in the specifications for the com- pletion of the work, and the penalty for exceeding that period is £20 for every succeding week. It is, however, inticipated that possession will not be taken of the new affices until Christmas.
We are happy to announce that matters are quickly coming to a tangible head in connection with the much discussed new post-office for Truro. As our readers are aware protracted correspondence and negotiations have ensued between the parties concerned with regard to the site, but about three weeks since Mr. S. W. Jenkin, of Liskeard, representing Lord Robartes, met Mr. Trounson, of Penzance, for the corporation of Truro, and arranged finally for the purchase of the corporation portion of the site. Subsequently arrangements were made for the repurchase of some of the frontage of this property, and also property from Lord Robartes for the purpose of a street improvement, throwing open the Cathedral space, by setting back the new building towards the High Cross. The architect, Mr. Trevail, was instructed to proceed with the plans, which are already completed, and comprise a building of two storeys besides the ground floor, standing on the combined sites of the old Unicorn Inn and the three shops between that and Pydar-street. There will be two frontages, one towards Pydar-street, and the other upon the High Cross and facing down King-street. In the latter will be the public entrance through two sets of folding doors and a lobby to the public office, measuring 27 feet 6 inches by 22 feet, and 14 feet in height clear to the ceiling. The main counter will measure 22 feet in length running across the office, and behind this will be a clear space 7 feet wide for the serving clerks, lighted by two very large windows opening upon Pydar and King streets. At the back of the counter a doorway will open into the sorting-office, which measures 54 feet 9 inches by an average breadth of about 21 feet. This apartment will be fitted up with the letter receiving boxes and the usual postal appliances. The space to be occupied by the letter carriers will be projected at the rear beyond the one of the main building, and lighted on the top by means of skylights Here a doorway leads to the back-yard that will be available for storage purposes as well as containing the usual conveniences. To the large workroom of the building there will be independent approaches from both the High Cross and Pydar-street, so that mails and parcels may be taken either way or both ways, as circumstances may require, and in no instance by the entrance used by the public. The entrance from Pydar-street communicates by folding-doors with a spacious hall, in which is placed the stairway leading to the first floor. The latter will be of ample breadth, and well lighted. On this floor will be the telegraph instrument-room, measuring about 21 feet square, communicating with a messenger's waiting-room and a storeroom. The instrument counters will be ranged along the walls overlooking King-street, and a vertical shoot will communicate directly with the receiving counter in the public office below for the incoming messages. Placed next to the instrument room, overlooking the High Cross and Cathedral, is the postmaster's room, measuring about 17 feet square, and fitted with pedestal table, press, &c. This communicates with a private storeroom. Opening upon the back yard is a telegraph battery and storeroom, measuring 15 feet 6 inches by 13 feet 6 inches, also female clerks' retiring room, lavatories, &c, occupying a space of about the same extent as the battery room and stores. The height of this floor is to be 12 feet in the clear. The second floor is not to be finished at present, and will be a provision for the future growth of postal business in the western city. These arrangements have been approved by H.M. Office of Works, upon which devolves the duty of seeing that the postal department is suitably accommodated. In the design made originally for the same site the architect arranged for a postmaster's residence, but this had to be sacrificed to purposes of the strictest economy. The elevations of the present design will be simpler, classic in style, and a great improvement, architecturally, to this part of the city. The main front will overlook King-street and the High Cross, having in bold letters the words "Post-office" over the public entrance, and a clock in the window immediately over the letterbox opening. The returns on each side of the main front are cut off at an angle, and the central portion finishes with a pediment above the second story containing the date, surmounted by the Royal coat of arms, carved in stone. The quoins, pilasters, mouldings, &c, will be of Bath stone, and the body of the walling in either Plymouth limestone or Doublebois slate. The basement up to tbe window bills will be of granite, the Pydar-street front will correspond generally with that towards the Cross in design and materials. The building will be erected by Lord Robartes, represented by Mr. Pearce Jenkin, of Redruth, and the postal authorities will be tenants on lease. The architect is Mr. Silvanus Trevail, of Truro, who has produced what cannot fail to be a most convenient building, and one that will amply meet the postal wants of the city for very many years to come. It is expected that the building will occupy about a year in course of erection.
From: Royal Cornwall Gazette 8 October 1886, p. 4
THE NEW POST-OFFICE AT TRURO. Those who for years have been familiar with Truro cannot fail to notice the great improvements which have been, and are still, taking place within its limits ; but, .perhaps, none are more perceptible than the transforma- tion which has taken place at the Cross. It is, however, more with the new post-office here that we intend to deal. The erection which now replaces the old Unicorn Inn is one of the finest of its kind in the West, and does credit to the architect, Mr. S. Trevail, although one can- not but regret that the Corporation, when going in for an improvement of this kind, did not make it complete by purchasing a few more yards of land, so that the front of the office might have been set back, if not level with tbe existing houses, at all events in such a manner as to have somewhat eased the angle which at present exists. That portion of the building to which the public will have access is the room on the ground floor nearest to Pydar-street. Between the entrance door anil this apart- ment is a spacious lobby, the floor of which will be laid in tiles ; it is surrounded by an artistic screen of pitch- pine, which contains lead lights of Cathedral tinted glass, and gives access to the office by means of two swinging doors. The office is a spacious room, its dimensions being 29 feet by 22. About one half of this space will be allotted to the public, and for the convenience of those having telegraphic business to transact a desk will be erected in front of the corner window. The remainder of the ground floor is devoted entirely to the sorting office, where the principal work of this department will be transacted. The room is much larger than the adjoining one, and is lit by three windows— two in front, and one in the rear— and a large lantern light. In order to prevent damage being done to the wallaby the parcels post baskets a dado of Portland cement takes the place of the ordinary plastering for a height of five feet from the floor. The chief clerk will have an office in this room. Access is gained to tbe upper storeys by means of a broad staircase, wliich deserves more than a mere reference, because of the excellence and artistic beauty of the joinery work, which here, as throughout the building, is done in pitch-pine. On the first floor will be tlie postmaster's office — a spacious apartment overlooking both King-street and Pydar-street. In the rear of the building on the same floor is another sorting room, in which the letter carriers will do their work. The general sorting having been done in the lower office, the letters will be conveyed to the upper room by means of a lift, where they will be assorted into districts by the respective postmen. Adjoining this room is a smaller one, which is set apart for the letter carriers. The principal apartment on the third and top storey is that set apart for telegraphy. This is one of the largest rooms in the bulling, and is lit by four win- dows—two overlooking Pydar-street, and two King- street. The wires will be conveyed to this room from the Pydar-street lobby on the ground floor, where they have been received from the underground pipes in an iron box. The telegraph messengers have a retiring room — similar to that of the postmen — adjoining the telegraph office, with which they will have communication through a small trap door. The telegraph engineers have a room on this floor, fitted with all the necessary appliances for cleansing the batteries, _c, and there is also a special retiring room, with lavatory, set apart for lady clerks. The sanitary and ventilating arrangements have received • special attention ; water is laid on from the Water Com- pany's main to'the upper floor ; several ventilating shafts run from tbe bottom to the top of the building, and in addition to this, the principal rooms have been supplied with special ventilators, which have communication with the chimney. The whole of the joinery has been carried out by Mr. William Tippett who has performed his con- tract in a manner which has commanded the approbation of all who have inspected the work. The same remarks apply to the builders, Messrs. M. and J. Clemens. The contract for the whole of the internal fittings has been let to Messrs. Olver and Sons, of Falmouth. Six weeks is the time stipulated in the specifications for the com- pletion of the work, and the penalty for exceeding that period is £20 for every succeding week. It is, however, inticipated that possession will not be taken of the new affices until Christmas.
