Lyndhurst The Post Office

The Post Office in Lyndhurst is a building that dates back to the early 16th century or earlier, with 17th century and later alterations. It serves as a post office with a dwelling above and to the rear, as well as a separate dwelling to the right. The building is two storeys high and features four windows. The front is divided into two sections: the left side is timber-framed and encased in 19th century brick, which is now painted, while the right side is timber-framed and weatherboarded on the first storey, with pebble-dash below. This section has an underbuilt long-wall jetty and a plaintiled roof. The windows of Lyndhurst are 19th century small-pane sashes, while the Post Office has three-light 20th century casements with leaded glazing on the first storey and two large 20th century shop windows below. There is a 19th century four-panelled entrance door to the shop, with the upper panels glazed, and a half-glazed door leading to Lyndhurst.

At the rear of the Post Office is a high-quality wing of two bays, dating from around 1500. This wing is timber-framed and was formerly jettied on two consecutive sides, with remnants of a corner post. It has undergone much underbuilding and encasing in red brick. A 17th century chimney features three detached octagonal shafts and a frieze of diaper patterned terracotta tiles at its base. There is also an early 17th century oriel window with ovolo moulded mullions. Inside, the open truss of the rear wing is of high quality, featuring a cambered archbraced tiebeam with one of a pair of pilaster shafts that has a carved capital. An octagonal crownpost with four-way braces and a moulded capital is also present. The front range contains some unchamfered floor joists that appear medieval in the Post Office, while the interior of Lyndhurst has not been examined.