Taunton Head Post Office

The Taunton Head Post Office, built in 1911 by Arthur Rutherford and constructed by Pollard and Son of Bridgewater, is a post office designed in the Renaissance style. It is constructed of English bond red brick with Portland stone ashlar, and has a concealed roof behind a parapet. The building has a service hall at the front with entrances to the left and right, and a carriageway to the rear on the left. The front elevation is three storeys and has a 1:1:4:1 bay arrangement, with bays two and seven projecting forward. The ground floor is ashlar with five tall metal-frame windows to the service hall, featuring Ionic pilasters. Flanking these are projecting doorways with bolection architraves, a large keystone inscribed “POST OFFICE” in the cornice, and a semi-circular fanlight above. The fanlight has a flush rusticated arch and keystone supporting an apron of window above; the apron and pilasters of the centre windows have tassel drops. The carriageway on the left has a plain segmental arch with a large keystone and iron gates. The first-floor windows have fifteen-pane sashes, and the second floor has twelve-pane sashes, all with keystones in flat arches and moulded cills with small aprons; the projecting bays have stone quoins. A moulded stone cornice featuring paired modillions sits above a brick parapet with stone coping. Inside, the service hall has a later suspended ceiling. The post office was built on the site of the former Spread Eagle Inn.