wrexham Post Office
Egerton Street
1885 building. Photograph © David Clarke
1907 extension. Photograph © David Clarke
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Architect
Alfred C. Baugh Year 1885 (1907 extension and Inland Revenue Office, architect Walter Pott)(c. 1915 third floor addition) Archive sources National Archives WORK 13/240 (extension); WORK 69/6 (photograph of extension) Selected bibliographical references Williams, W. Alister The Encyclopaedia of Wrexham Wrexham : Bridge Books, 2001 Wrexham Advertiser 19 Dec 1885, p. 5 History Opened: 23 Dec 1885 Closed: 1980s Current use: Council offices |
Building description
From: Wrexham Advertiser 19 December 1885, p. 5
The much-needed new Post Office is now an accomplished fact, and besides being an ornament to the town, is in all respects a great public boon. The new building was commenced on May 23rd, and is to be opened for the dispatch of business on Wednesday morning next; the old office will be closed entirely after the despatch of the night mail on Tuesday, and letters after that period must be posted in the new box. The architect of the new structure is Mr Alfred C. Baugh, whose plans were unanimously approved by the Government, the contractor being Mr William Elge Samuel, and to say that he has given every possible satisfaction is simply to record a fact patent to all who have inspected the new premises, the workmanship and general carrying out of the undertaking being beyond all praise. The cost of the building is about £2,000, the owner of the property being the Rev. T. Llewellyn Griffith, Penynant, and Rector of Deal, Kent, and the building has been let to the Post Office Authorities on lease. The building is of a plain substantial character of red brick, 53 feet in height, with a frontage to Egerton-street of 41 feet 6 inches and to the new street of 64 feet 6 inches, and the external appearance, with the Royal Arms over the entrance is very imposing. The pressed brick-work has been supplied by Messrs Monk and Newell, Ruabon, the whole of the dressed masonry being executed by Mr James Davies with Penygelli stone. Ventilation — a most important point in the construction of all buildings, public or private — has received special attention, fresh-air flues being constructed in the walls with Sherringham's ventilators on the inside in every room, a separate flue being placed at the ceiling-level in each apartment to carry off the vitiated air. The front doors open into a small vestibule, which, in turn, is cut off from the interior by a very handsome and effective screen, fitted with pneumatic door-closer, and the ornamental lead-glazing of this, together with the fan-lights to the windows, present a most artistic appearance. The tiles of the vestibule floor have been furnished by Mr J. C. Edwards, Trefynant Works, Ruabon, as also the decorative flooring of the General Office which is approached by a door on the right of the Egerton-street entrance, the dimensions of this the chief public room, being 30 feet 6 inches by 20 feet 3 inches. A substantial mahogany-topped counter, with massive looking pillar supports, runs the entire length of the place and is at the disposal of the public for the purchase of stamps, money orders, parcels, etc., whilst opposite this is a telegraph screen consisting of six partitions admirably lighted, and every accommodation for the preparation of messages. Fronting the New Street facing Rhosddu Road, are the letter-boxes with separate apertures for letters and newspapers, and we may here say, for the information of the public, that letters posted with the late fee will for the present be handed over the counter, as there will be no "late fee" box. On the letter boxes being cleared, the contents are conveyed to the stamping table, conveniently situated, and the private letter box arrangements are very unique, the numerous pigeon-holes being protected by revolving shutters and the letters being handed over to the recipients across the general counter. Immediately behind the public office is the sorting room — 30 ft. by 21 ft. — and here the advantage of the new premises is especially manifest, inasmuch as there is sufficient accommodation for sixteen postmen, the sorting table being constructed upon the most desirable pattern with convenient shelves for parcels, &c. The "inwards" bags are not conveyed through the general office, but are brought in at the rear of the premises. This sorting office is very lofty, having an excellent light evenly distributed and throwing no shadows — a point of some importance in this branch of the business — whilst all the fittings and appliances are of the most approved description. The basement consists of battery room 14ft, by 10ft; messengers' kitchen 21ft by 10ft 4in, and two store-rooms, in dimensions 19ft by 10ft 3in and 11ft 4in by 10ft. 4in, respectively, and in addition to these there are the usual out-offices with a convenient-sized yard. Leading out of the vestibule is the Postmaster's office, 18ft by 10ft, with compact safe-room adjoining. Upstairs is a commodious and well-arranged telegraph instrument room, 31ft by 19ft 9in, the instruments extending about three-parts around, and here again the superiority of the new premises is very marked, the contrast between the accommodation of the old and new offices in this department being of the most striking character. Accommodation can be made, if necessary, for many additional instruments on the occasion of public meetings and so forth, where long press messages require transmission. Near the mantle- piece in the instrument room is a balanced lift for the purpose of conveying messages from the public counter and running alongside the lift is a speaking tube for communication with the general office. Adjoining the instrument room is a spacious store-room 19ft by 15ft, with excellent accommodation for keeping all the necessary "forms" whose name is legion, and in close proximity is a small accessory store room for use in case of emergency. At the present season the improved facilities for the conduct of work must be most valuable, and a mass of correspondence which last Christmas suffered, in many instances, serious delay, will now be able to be dealt with satisfactorily by one of our most useful public institutions. One element of regret, however, in connection with the new post-office, is the unfortunate circumstance that the post master — Mr J. Edgar — is unable to inaugurate its opening, owing to his very serious illness, although a most courteous and efficient substitute has been found in the gentleman placed in control — Mr G. Harris, from the Manchester headquarters — who has ably discharged the responsible duties connected with his position during the past few weeks. The present efficient postal staff under Mr Griffiths, the senior clerk, will also now “have more room for their strength," and a better opportunity of working in comfort, and for the greater advantage of the community at large.
From: Wrexham Advertiser 19 December 1885, p. 5
The much-needed new Post Office is now an accomplished fact, and besides being an ornament to the town, is in all respects a great public boon. The new building was commenced on May 23rd, and is to be opened for the dispatch of business on Wednesday morning next; the old office will be closed entirely after the despatch of the night mail on Tuesday, and letters after that period must be posted in the new box. The architect of the new structure is Mr Alfred C. Baugh, whose plans were unanimously approved by the Government, the contractor being Mr William Elge Samuel, and to say that he has given every possible satisfaction is simply to record a fact patent to all who have inspected the new premises, the workmanship and general carrying out of the undertaking being beyond all praise. The cost of the building is about £2,000, the owner of the property being the Rev. T. Llewellyn Griffith, Penynant, and Rector of Deal, Kent, and the building has been let to the Post Office Authorities on lease. The building is of a plain substantial character of red brick, 53 feet in height, with a frontage to Egerton-street of 41 feet 6 inches and to the new street of 64 feet 6 inches, and the external appearance, with the Royal Arms over the entrance is very imposing. The pressed brick-work has been supplied by Messrs Monk and Newell, Ruabon, the whole of the dressed masonry being executed by Mr James Davies with Penygelli stone. Ventilation — a most important point in the construction of all buildings, public or private — has received special attention, fresh-air flues being constructed in the walls with Sherringham's ventilators on the inside in every room, a separate flue being placed at the ceiling-level in each apartment to carry off the vitiated air. The front doors open into a small vestibule, which, in turn, is cut off from the interior by a very handsome and effective screen, fitted with pneumatic door-closer, and the ornamental lead-glazing of this, together with the fan-lights to the windows, present a most artistic appearance. The tiles of the vestibule floor have been furnished by Mr J. C. Edwards, Trefynant Works, Ruabon, as also the decorative flooring of the General Office which is approached by a door on the right of the Egerton-street entrance, the dimensions of this the chief public room, being 30 feet 6 inches by 20 feet 3 inches. A substantial mahogany-topped counter, with massive looking pillar supports, runs the entire length of the place and is at the disposal of the public for the purchase of stamps, money orders, parcels, etc., whilst opposite this is a telegraph screen consisting of six partitions admirably lighted, and every accommodation for the preparation of messages. Fronting the New Street facing Rhosddu Road, are the letter-boxes with separate apertures for letters and newspapers, and we may here say, for the information of the public, that letters posted with the late fee will for the present be handed over the counter, as there will be no "late fee" box. On the letter boxes being cleared, the contents are conveyed to the stamping table, conveniently situated, and the private letter box arrangements are very unique, the numerous pigeon-holes being protected by revolving shutters and the letters being handed over to the recipients across the general counter. Immediately behind the public office is the sorting room — 30 ft. by 21 ft. — and here the advantage of the new premises is especially manifest, inasmuch as there is sufficient accommodation for sixteen postmen, the sorting table being constructed upon the most desirable pattern with convenient shelves for parcels, &c. The "inwards" bags are not conveyed through the general office, but are brought in at the rear of the premises. This sorting office is very lofty, having an excellent light evenly distributed and throwing no shadows — a point of some importance in this branch of the business — whilst all the fittings and appliances are of the most approved description. The basement consists of battery room 14ft, by 10ft; messengers' kitchen 21ft by 10ft 4in, and two store-rooms, in dimensions 19ft by 10ft 3in and 11ft 4in by 10ft. 4in, respectively, and in addition to these there are the usual out-offices with a convenient-sized yard. Leading out of the vestibule is the Postmaster's office, 18ft by 10ft, with compact safe-room adjoining. Upstairs is a commodious and well-arranged telegraph instrument room, 31ft by 19ft 9in, the instruments extending about three-parts around, and here again the superiority of the new premises is very marked, the contrast between the accommodation of the old and new offices in this department being of the most striking character. Accommodation can be made, if necessary, for many additional instruments on the occasion of public meetings and so forth, where long press messages require transmission. Near the mantle- piece in the instrument room is a balanced lift for the purpose of conveying messages from the public counter and running alongside the lift is a speaking tube for communication with the general office. Adjoining the instrument room is a spacious store-room 19ft by 15ft, with excellent accommodation for keeping all the necessary "forms" whose name is legion, and in close proximity is a small accessory store room for use in case of emergency. At the present season the improved facilities for the conduct of work must be most valuable, and a mass of correspondence which last Christmas suffered, in many instances, serious delay, will now be able to be dealt with satisfactorily by one of our most useful public institutions. One element of regret, however, in connection with the new post-office, is the unfortunate circumstance that the post master — Mr J. Edgar — is unable to inaugurate its opening, owing to his very serious illness, although a most courteous and efficient substitute has been found in the gentleman placed in control — Mr G. Harris, from the Manchester headquarters — who has ably discharged the responsible duties connected with his position during the past few weeks. The present efficient postal staff under Mr Griffiths, the senior clerk, will also now “have more room for their strength," and a better opportunity of working in comfort, and for the greater advantage of the community at large.
