Former Head Post Office

The Former Head Post Office is a building constructed in red brick with Portland stone dressings, designed in the English Baroque style. It features a large three-storey and attic facade with seven bays, where the outer bays are advanced and topped with open segmental pediments that enclose royal arms. The central bays are accentuated with giant Ionic columns that support a dentil cornice and a pulvinated frieze, with modern mansard balustrading behind.

The second floor has large round-headed windows that are key-blocked, while the first floor showcases tripartite windows with advanced central pediments, pulvinated friezes, and half-columns. The outer bays on the second floor have narrow pedimented surrounds that are also key-blocked, with cornices and key blocks on the first floor. The top floor features fixed glazing with small panes, while sash glazing is used elsewhere. The ground floor is plain with a band over ashlar, linked key blocks that connect to Gibbs style surrounds for paired windows, and arched frames over the entrances in the outer bays. The entrance is highlighted by a pedimented doorpiece with a key block, blocked columns, and sidelights, with a fanlight to the left.

To the right, there is a single return bay that matches the style of the main building but has been glazed in to a modern block facing the former Thomas Street. A blue plaque commemorates John Frost (1784-1877), a Chartist and Mayor of Newport from 1836 to 1842, who was born on Thomas Street. The very large modern blocks attached to the sides and rear of the building are not included in this description.