Report - Bishop Street Post Office, Leicester January 2015

[mookster]

This place was somewhat of a minor 'umbex tourbus' location for a time - and for good reason. Early one cold, dark January morning I found myself in Leicester with a pair of miscreant accomplices and, after a somewhat lengthy and convoluted access route found ourselves inside the stunning post office hall as the sun was coming up. It's easily up there in the most beautiful buildings I've shot, when I walked into the hall it was a real jaw on the floor moment for me.

Potted history shamelessly stolen from @AndyK

The former post office in Leicester is a large 5 story building that opened in 1935. Designed by architect Mr. Henry Tanner of Her Majesty’s Office of Works, the building was built by Messrs. Ives and Co, of Shipley using coarse-grained De Lank granite from Cornwall. In 1954 the provincial post office was the first to be equipped with a machine that calculated postage for sending parcels to anywhere in the world. The public office is a large space with a 40 foot curved counter running the entire length. The 17 foot high ceiling is ornately decorated.
The post office closed in 2007 and was purchased by the local council the following year. Plans to convert the building into a customer service centre were abandoned due to costs and the building has stood empty ever since.

Later on in 2015 the planning permission for conversion into student accomodation was approved and work started to convert the building - it's now a large student hall of residence.

Thanks for looking ​

 

[Seffy]

Well photographed mate - top notch.

 

[Calamity Jane]

This building was indeed stunning. Fab pics. So beautiful

 

[HughieD]

That gets my stamp of approval. 1st class archive report... .....I'll get my coat.

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Nice one, cheers for the mention. Lovely place, this one.

 

[Wolfsbane453]

Is this place still stood

 

[Wolfsbane453]

Nice one, cheers for the mention. Lovely place, this one.

Is it still stood

 

[TheTimeChamber]

Very nice

 

[Calamity Jane]

Is it still stood

Its good you want to know, but so far youve posted locations needed, not a great idea. I would suggest looking this place up, finding its post code and google mapping it. Easy. Will tell you if its still about .

 

[splodge]

This building still stands although over intervening period it has been converted to flats. I would love to think that the glass roof has somehow been kept, but unfortunately I don’t suppose it has, or it will have been boxed in. A real shame, as as a post office this was a stunning open building.