Newbury Post Office

Newbury Post Office

This is a Post Office built in 1895–6, designed by the Board of Works under the supervision of the Government Clerk of Works, Mr J Askew, and built by Mr W Goodchild of Reading. The building has undergone additional modifications and rear extensions during the 20th century.

The main structure uses red brick laid in both Flemish bond and stretcher bond, with applied half-timbering, stone dressings, and tiled roofs.

The building is three storeys tall with a pitched tiled roof. Its principal elevation faces west onto Cheap Street and is arranged in three bays, with a wider central bay that projects slightly and features a gabled second floor flanked by two hipped dormers. The central gable is decorated with applied half-timbering and contains a canted bay window to the second floor, supported on timber brackets. This half-timbering continues as a narrow band under the eaves on both sides. Stone capped parapets run along the roof to the north and south, with two chimney stacks also present. The first floor contains transom and mullion windows of two, four and two lights respectively. Stone string-courses separate each floor, with the string-course between ground and first floor being more ornate, featuring foliate modillions.

The ground floor displays a large central round-arched window with a moulded drip-stone and square foliate panels, each different from the others. A stone plaque above this identifies the building as the 'POST OFFICE'. To the north is a two-light window, and to the south the main entrance. Both the two-light window and entrance have segmental pediments decorated with carved crowns flanked by the letters 'V' and 'R' for 'Victoria Regina'. A modern access ramp in brick with metal fittings and an adjoining modern brick wall to the north contain post boxes; these are not of special interest. Rear accretive additions are also not of special interest.

The south elevation is largely obscured by the adjoining building, visible only at second floor level. The north elevation is plain, featuring only stepped eaves with stone details, a stone capped parapet, and stone bands to the chimney stack. The rear (east) elevation is partly hidden by adjoining buildings but contains a wide dormer to the second floor lit by four windows, and at first floor level a sash window and a glazed corridor connecting this building to those to the east.

Inside, the main entrance opens into a small lobby with a wooden wall plaque commemorating employees who fell in the First and Second World Wars. The post office service area has been substantially altered and extended beyond the original east wall of the Victorian building. The coved ceiling cannot be original, as it extends beyond the rear wall of the Victorian structure. Traces of a former internal wall, possibly marking the end of the original service area, are visible. Offices and sorting areas to the east occupy the lesser rear buildings, which are not of special interest. A single staircase leads to the upper floors. The staircase between the first and second floors may be original but has been clad, obscuring any Victorian features or materials. The modernised upper offices retain little of their original character.

The Newbury Weekly News of 26 November 1896 provided a detailed description of the building when newly completed. The ground floor housed a handsome and lofty post office service area measuring 28 feet by 30 feet, with a sorting office behind it, waiting rooms, and a long connecting corridor. Yorkshire ranges were provided for staff cooking. The second floor contained a caretaker's flat with a large sitting room, two bedrooms with extensive views, a pantry, a kitchen with a Yorkshire range, a scullery with copper and water laid on, and lavatory accommodation. The first floor contained the Postmaster's office, fitted with speaking tubes connecting to other parts of the building, an instrument room, and private retiring rooms for the lady clerks.

The total build cost for the street-facing building and rear accommodation was between £5,000 and £6,000. Building work commenced in the summer of 1895, and the foundation stone was laid in November of that year. An extension built circa 1929 by Hoskings & Pond included a Telephone Exchange. Further extensions were added in the mid and late 20th century.