126 High Street

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You are in [Places] [High Street Properties] [126 High Street]
[-->125 High Street] [-->127 High Street]

Summary:

Earliest information: 1654
Original estate:
Listed? No
Common Rights? No
Date of current building: 1914

Thumbnail History:

Pollern (1654) -> Earle's Engineering Workshop -> The Post Office (1914)

Photo Gallery:

p3030943

hsl-26

19900629 126 High Street (John Allen)

20260000 Crown Post Office

- Crown Post Office, 126 High Street, February 2007

- Lower High Street c1908 showing Earle's engineering workshop on the left - later demolished for the Crown Post Office to be built.

- Crown Post Office, 126 High Street, June 1990 (John Allen).

- Crown Post Office, July 2014.

- Crown Post Office, Spring 2026.

Timeline:

1654 (NH re 125 HS) In 1654 it was presented that Thomas King, with his paths and his rails (or railings) has encroached upon the garden ground of Tobias Pollerne "in two several places at least a foot in breadth and 5 lugs in length" (WRO 490/1542). The site of Tobias Pollerne's house and garden is identifiable with present day 126HS.

<1914 Earle's Engineering Workshop

1914 property bought from Mrs Nellie Hawkes by George Belcheno Tutt & Bertram George Howard for £450. The Tutts were builders, and they built the post office building, and leased it to HM Postmaster General in December 1914. The PO subsequently (?when) acquired the freehold from F.R. Stoneham. The PO land backed onto Mr. Astley's land, with Mrs Hawkes to the north, and Mrs Gibbons to the south. South Berks Brewery was at the end of the south boundary. (See Correspondence with the Post Office, 1984 - including property transfer 13th November 1914)

1914 New Crown Post Office built on site of Earle's engineering workshop. Moved from 14 High Street.

A special security feature:

Have you ever noticed the missing brick under the window on the front wall of the Post Office?

It was placed there deiliberately as a security feature. The local policeman on the beat could step in it and pull up on the handles at the bottom of the window to reach high enough to view the Post Office safe through a clear slit in the obscured windows. (With thanks to Bryan Bint). July 2014.