Old Post Office

NEWTON ABBOT

SX8571SE BANK STREET 1012-1/13/6 (East side) 06/06/72 No.6 Old Post Office

GV II

Post office, now a bookshop. c1860-1870. Painted brick and stucco, slate roof with modillion cornices to stacks at gable ends. STYLE: Italianate. PLAN: double-depth. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys with attic; symmetrical 4-window, 3-bay, range. The terminal bays step slightly forward and a rich modillion cornice follows the contours of the facade which is articulated by pilasters banded to the lower floors and panelled to the second floor. A central segmental-arched pediment over a semicircular-arched attic window is incorporated into the parapet. Horizontal glazing bars to paired 2/2-pane semicircular-arched sash windows with moulded archivolts, keystones and imposts to the centre of the second floor, similar windows to the terminal ranges have cornices on consoles. Segmental-arched first-floor windows have similar glazing and triangular pediments flanking the paired central windows which share one segmental-arched pediment. The upper floors have bracketed sill string courses. A panelled granite plinth with banded rustication to the ground floor; C20 doors under stilted semicircular arches flank a wide segmental arch over the shop window; all have rusticated voussoirs. INTERIOR: not inspected. A good example of the more richly ornamented Italianate style adopted for commercial buildings in the period. (BoE: Pevsner N & Cherry B: Devon: London: 1989-: 594).

Listing NGR: SX8582971254