Head Post Office, 42-44 Queen Anne Street, Dunfermline, Dunfermline, Fife

Entry Name: Head Post Office, 42-44 Queen Anne Street, Dunfermline

Listing Name: 42-44 (Even Nos) Queen Anne Street, Head Post Office, Including Former Stable Yard and Boundary Wall

Listing Date: 29 February 1988

Category: B

Source: Historic Scotland

Source ID: 362507

Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB26034

Building Class: Cultural

Also known as: Dunfermline, 42-44 Queen Anne Street, Head Post Office

ID on this website: 200362507

Location: Dunfermline

County: Fife

Town: Dunfermline

Electoral Ward: Dunfermline Central

Traditional County: Fife

Tagged with: Architectural structure

Description

W W Robertson (of Her Majesty's Office of Works), 1889-90; extended to N 1902, also by Robertson. 2-storey; 5-bay; rectangular-plan section orientated N/S along Pilmuir Street; single storey, 6-bay, rectangular-plan section extending to W fronting onto Queen Anne St; single storey U-shaped stable block built around courtyard added to N as part of extensions. Scottish Renaissance post office with crowstepped gables to 2-storey section and pedimented windows; angled bay at corner of Pilmuir Street and Queen Anne Street. Coursed stugged snecked sandstone with polished sandstone ashlar dressings; brick stable buildings with sandstone ashlar dressings. Base course; pair of moulded band courses; one above ground floor windows; one at cill level above; to street (E and S) elevations of 2-storey block; base course, moulded band course across window lintels to street (S) elevation of single storey section; cornice to parapet above. Architraved windows with chamfered reveals to street elevations of 2-storey block; mainly with chamfered mullions and transoms; those to 1st floor pedimented. Aediculed windows to Queen Anne Street elevation of single storey section; flattened flanking brackets to pediment and bracketed projecting cills. Coped gables.

E (PILMUIR STREET) ELEVATION: entrance to angled bay to outer left. Flanking pilasters (stars and flowers to capitals) on pedestals support plain entablature surmounted by open-topped pediment with urn on pedestal (dated 1889) at centre; 2-leaf boarded timber door with border-glazed rectangular fanlight. Heraldic panel above inscribed 'Dieu et Mon Droit'. Balustraded parapet to eaves. 4-light mullion and transom window to each floor to right; both linked by 3 flattened brackets to cornice above; upper one with pilastered and panelled apron and breaking-eaves pediment ornamented with strapwork and with moulded (Jacobean style?) finial; balustraded parapet to either side. 2 slightly projecting bays surmounted by crowstepped gable with blind panel at apex to right. 4-light mullion and transom window to left of ground floor linked by 3 flattened brackets to cornice above and with bracketed cill; 2-light transom window to right. Pair of 2-light transom windows above; both with cornices with flattened flanking brackets and segmental pediments scrolled at centre. Slightly projecting bay to outer right surmounted by crowstepped gable with urn-like finial and with blind arrowslit at apex. 6-light mullion and transom window to each floor; both linked by 4 flattened brackets to cornice above; upper one with pilastered and panelled apron and double pediment; lower pediment scrolled with open top and broken base (sunflower panel at centre); upper pediment bracketed and with floral decoration. Entrance to former stable yard to right. Coped coursed stugged snecked sandstone wall to right with blocked entrance and window; both with pediments taken from earlier school building formerly on site; that to left inscribed 'SEP.DOCE.ET.CASTIGA.UT.VIVAT.PUER.'. 3 carved panels, also from school, in between; one bearing Burgh coat of arms; the others inscribed 'FAVE.MIHI.MI.DEUS.1625.' and'RECONDITUM.1816.D.WILSON.PREFECTO'.

S (QUEEN ANNE STREET) ELEVATION: entrance with deep ashlar surround with outer architrave to entrance to outer left of single storey section; earlier to mid 20th century 2-leaf panelled timber door set back within small vestibule; rectangular fanlight to vestibule. Aediculed window to 5 bays to right. Slightly projecting 2-storey bay to right; crowstepped gable with arrowslit at apex and urn finial. 6-light mullion and transom window to each floor; both linked by 4 flattened brackets to cornice above; upper one with pilastered and panelled apron and double pediment; lower pediment scrolled with open top and broken base (sunflower panel at centre); upper pediment bracketed and with floral decoration. Angled bay (see E Elevation) to right.

W ELEVATION: irregular fenestration to right, including to 3 gable ends (that to left part of extensions) to single-storey section to outer right. Blank coped wall to left.

N ELEVATION: blank coped wall.

STABLE YARD: N elevation of 2-storey block to S. U-shaped stable range adjoins to right. Irregular fenestration with entrances to N, S and W.

INTERIOR: ground floor of post office completely modernised.

Mainly timber top-hung casements and 8-pane sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs. Gablehead stacks to E and W of 2-storey section and one to W of single storey section; shouldered wallhead stack to N of 2-storey section; all with band courses and moulded cornices; cans missing.

Statement of Interest

A well-constructed and finely-detailed building. Some notable. Some notable inscribed stones from the grammar school of 1625 that formerly stood on the site have been incorporated in the boundary wall.

External Links

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