Description

James Pearson Alison, dated 1892 and 1904; earlier-20th-century additions to rear. Single-storey, corner-sited, rectangular-plan, classical-detailed former Post Office with 5 bays to each elevation including later 2-storey, 3-bay addition to North Bridge Street elevation. Canted pedimented corner entrance with fluted Ionic columns flanked by 2 pedimented tripartite windows to each elevation. Blonde sandstone ashlar; coursed rubble and render to gables. Base course; cill course; string course; parapet. Corniced eaves course and balustraded parapet to second floor extension. Pedimented tripartite windows with fluted pilaster mullions. 2-leaf timber panelled door in central broken pedimented doorway to 2-storey section with plaque bearing letters 'Post Office'. Lowered cill to right window for former letter box. Earlier-20th-century, 2-storey and single-storey flat-roofed red brick additions to rear.

Timber sash and case windows to 2-storey section; fixed glazing in timber-framed windows elsewhere. Grey slate roof. Stone skews. Large corniced gable stacks with short clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

STONE GATEPIERS: Later square ashlar gatepiers to former side delivery entrance.

Statement of Interest

The former Post Office buildings form a strong pair, prominently corner sited, and with good Classical stone detailing. The architect, J P Alison (1862-1932), was Hawick's most prominent architect. He first set up his practice in North Bridge Street in 1887 and the Post Office is one of his earlier commissions before he changed direction later in his career to concentrate more on private villas.

Hawick Post Office had been at 27 High Street since 1880, but was deemed inadequate and these new buildings were commissioned. The buildings cost £2,402 to construct and were paid for by James Oliver of Thornwood (now Mansfield House Hotel). When first built, the entire building was single storey but a second storey was added to the N end in 1904, presumably for accommodation. In 1972 the sorting office moved to St George's Lane and this building was sold in 1993 to become Stamper's pub. The roof of the single-storey section was previously piended (see photo in Young, Old Hawick).

Stone carved plaques with crown details inscribed 'ER' and '1904' to raised storey of 3 bay section to right.

Single-storey section converted to public house and 2-storey section under separate ownership and currently used as a restaurant (2007).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77781041

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas