Market Place, Kingston upon Hull

Image: © Bernard Sharp Taken: 4 Feb 2014

Built 1875, the 'Post & Telegraph Office' (displayed just below the cornice) were the first premises in the town actually owned and maintained by the Post Office. The new premises superseded the offices in Whitefriargate, and subsequently became redundant upon the opening of a new head Post Office at the corner of Lowgate and Alfred Gelder Street in 1909. In 1912, the Custom House removed here from Whitefriargate, before moving to the north side of Queen's Gardens in 1964. For many years, the premises have been occupied by Paolo's Old Custom House Restaurant. Grade II Listed Building. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-387678-9-market-place- Further information: http://britishpostofficearchitects.weebly.com/1877---market-place.html ‘Brown’s Illustrated Guide to Hull’ by A.Brown & Sons, c1888: ‘General Post Office, a large and handsome stone building of four storeys in the modern Italian style of architecture, opened in 1877. The basement is used for the transaction of the usual postal business. At the rear of the public office are the sorting offices and the postmen’s rooms, with an entrance from Scale Lane. On the first floor are the offices of the Enquiry Department, Post Master, and Chief Clerk; and on the second floor are the offices for the telephone inter-communication; and at the rear of these is the telegraph instrument room. There are six deliveries of letters daily. The staff includes 128 clerks and telegraphists, four inspectors, 98 postmen, and 92 telegraph messengers.’

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