Post Office 45 Rochdale Road Todmorden.

THE PROPOSED NEW POST OFFICE - By the kindness of the architect, Mr Jesse Horsfall FRIBA of Todmorden and Manchester, we are enabled to produce the above sketch of the proposed new Post Office at Pavement. During the week the tenders for the various works have been let, and it is proposed to proceed with the work as quickly as possible in order that the building may be ready for occupation before this time next year. The contractors for the various works will be as follows: Mason’s work Mr B Lumb; joiner’s work, Messrs Halstead Brothers, Eastwood; slating and plastering, Mr Tillotson Blacka; plumbing, Mr R H Ingham; heating, Messrs Saunders and Taylor, heating Engineers, Manchester. The plans show that a considerable portion of the garden and hanging ground at the Todmorden end of the Bankfield Building site are to be included in the site of the new building, which will necessitate the removing of the gate leading to the Bankfield buildings several yards nearer to Waterside. As shown in the sketch, the entrance to the Post Office will be entrance to the Post Office will be at the corner facing Pavement, and the aperture for the posting of letter, etc. will be in the portion of the building near the gate leading to Bankfield Buildings. There will also be a letter box in the counter so that letters can be posted without going outside. The entrance opens into a vestibule which leads into the public office, and on the same floor, at the front, is the Postmaster’s private room. Behind, on the same floor is a large sorting room, top lighted. On the first floor are telephone room, telegraph room, messenger boys’ room, male clerks’ retiring room, female clerks’ retiring room, and a special room for batteries. There is also a retiring room for the postmen and a linesmen’s room in the basement. [ Todmorden Advertiser 31 July 1903 page 7 and illustration]

The new Post Office for Todmorden was opened for public business yesterday. It is situate in the garden hitherto attached to Bankfield Buildings, Pavement. The building has been erected from the designs of Mr Jesse Horsfall architect, Todmorden and although the site is not central as might have been desired, the premises are declared to be as compact and completely equipped as any in the kingdom. [Burnley Express 2 July 1904, page 6]

Reference    British Architect 17 July 1903 Page viii
Reference    Building News 17 July 1903 page 91
Reference    Burnley Express 2 July 1904, page 6
Archive        British Postal Museum and Archive POST 74/178