Former Head Post Office

FORMER HEAD POST OFFICE

A former Head Post Office on the west side of Lowgate in Kingston upon Hull. Built in 1908 with a mid-20th century addition executed in matching style, it was designed by J Williams of the Office of Works. The building is constructed in Portland stone ashlar with a granite plinth, rendered in Baroque Revival style.

The Lowgate front presents three storeys arranged in a 7-bay composition with single projecting end bays. The architectural detailing is elaborate, featuring channelled rustication to the ground floor, a ground floor block cornice, and a dentillated main cornice with a coped balustrade punctuated by pedestals.

The centrepiece of the Lowgate elevation consists of a screen of giant Ionic columns. On the first floor, seven 15-pane sash windows with cornices, triple keystones and alternating triangular and segmental pediments are set within this framework. Above, each bay contains two narrow glazing bar sashes on a sill band.

The ground floor displays substantial stone grandeur. A granite central doorcase features massive rusticated Doric columns and pilasters supporting a dentillated open pediment. The round-arched doorway has a double keystone, panelled double doors and a blank fanlight. Flanking the central entrance are three rusticated concave round-headed openings with mask keystones. The central opening is finished with a moulded stone doorcase, cornice and an "E R" monogram on the central block in the frieze. Granite steps with low balustrade walls lead to panelled doors with radial fanlights. The flanking openings contain tripartite glazing bar windows with radial fanlights, below which are panelled aprons and granite screen walls with spiked tops.

The end bays feature rustication on each floor. A recess framed by giant paired Ionic columns with a dentillated segmental pediment contains the Royal arms. On the first floor sits a 15-pane sash flanked by Doric columns carrying an entablature with double keystone and triangular pediment. Above is a 12-pane sash with moulded surround, double keystone and corbelled sill. The ground floor contains a rusticated round-headed concave opening with double keystone and a tripartite glazing bar window with radial fanlight, panelled apron and screen wall. A curved inset corner to the right displays rustication on each floor, with single narrow windows to the upper floors on the left and three small stepped staircase windows below on the ground floor.

The right front elevation, facing Alfred Gelder Street, has projecting centre and end bays, each with rusticated inset corners and three windows per floor. Each bay contains an attic with a raised panel; those on the central and left bays are inscribed "Post Office". The central bay displays on the first floor an 18-pane sash flanked by engaged Ionic columns carrying an open pediment and large double keystone, with 15-pane sashes on either side with moulded surrounds. Above is a smaller 16-pane sash with eared surround, double keystone and corbelled sill, flanked by 12-pane sashes with moulded surrounds. The end bays feature similar fenestration. On the ground floor, a rusticated coved round-headed opening with double keystone contains a tripartite window with apron. The left end bay has a similar recess with a stone doorcase featuring an open pediment carried on engaged Doric columns and a panel in the frieze inscribed "Head Postmaster". The right end bay contains a full-width semicircular arch for vehicles with sliding doors.

Flanking the central bay are 5-bay ranges with screens of four giant Ionic columns. On the first floor, 15-pane sashes with pilastered surrounds, double keystones and alternating triangular and segmental pediments are set within these screens. Above, each bay contains two narrow glazing bar windows on a moulded sill band. The ground floor contains rusticated coved round-arched openings with mask keystones. The left range has three tripartite windows, a panelled door with lintel inscribed "Staff Entrance", then another window, all with radial fanlights. In front of these openings are a coped balustrade and steps with panelled pedestals. The right range has five similar windows.

Beyond the end bay, a set-back section features two glazing bar sashes on each floor. Below the ground-floor windows are a barred window to the left and a double door to the right with moulded surround and keystone.

The interior features a cross beam ceiling carried on late 20th century columns, decorated with dentillated and egg-and-dart cornices.