Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A freestanding, asymmetrical two-storey-with-attic Italianate bank building with a distinctive curved façade, constructed to the designs of Thomas Turner in 1885. Rectangular on plan and located on an elevated corner site to the west of Kilrea at the junction between Maghera Street and New Row. Two returns abut to the west; a late 19th century return (south facing) and flat-roofed return to the north, constructed during the latter half of the 20th century (and is of no interest).

Hipped slate roof with parapet; catslide roof to rear having four skylights and slightly raised half gables. Black/grey angled ridge tiles to centre ridge, lead strips to hip ridge; ashlar sandstone parapet and coping, surmounted by three stone urns and curved north eastern corner. Concealed gutters behind parapet with square cast iron down pipes; half-round rainwater goods to the rear. Ashlar chimneys to centre of north and south elevations, rising behind parapets, having two clay pots. Walling to east and half of north elevation is ashlar sandstone; remaining elevations are ruled-and-lined rendered (rubblestone wall to west elevation of rear return); band-rustication to ground floor; straight channelled quoin strips to outer edges of elevation. Projecting cornice below parapet and between floors. Windows are generally timber sashes; timber casements and some metal windows to 20th century rear return; continuous sill moulding to each floor.

Principal elevation faces east and comprises three equally spaced windows to first floor with recessed apron panels. Central doorway with a pair of windows to each side. Entrance embraced by festooned Ionic columns and outer partially-fluted pilasters, both resting on plinths; modern signage above. Carved pediment over carved lintel inscribed ‘NORTHERN BANK’ rising from plain engaged pilasters, flanking a timber panelled entrance door; plain glass transom over. North-east corner is curved and comprises three curved windows to each level; festooned Ionic columns to each side of central curved window, those of ground floor are partially fluted. Projecting strip of banded rusticated blocks to each side of curved ensemble.

South elevation contains projecting strip of banded rusticated blocks to right side; window to ground floor with large window above; two further windows to left and single one above (beneath gable).

West elevation has three windows to left side of first floor; plain detailing. Ground floor is largely abutted by 20th century extension (of no interest) to left; right-side abutted by pitched and slated single-storey return; rubble-stone gable is blank; rendered right cheek has single window; left cheek abutted by modern flat-roofed extension.

North elevation is blank to right side; left side projects and is of ashlar stone (same style as east elevation). Single window to ground floor; left corner is curved and joins the principal east elevation (see previous).

Setting
Street fronted, located on an elevated corner site within an urban/residential
setting at the junction of Maghera Street and New Row, to the west end of Kilrea. Main entrance is accessed via steps from New Row or a concrete curved ramp from Maghera Street both of which have been added/remodelled in recent years and are bounded by a coursed and squared rubble wall surmounted by saddleback copings and spear-headed cast-iron railings; square pier to south-east corner. An enclosed yard to the rear and bounded by a wall and mature trees to the west. Bounded to the south by coursed rubble wall and abutting door; north side to Maghera Street has a roughcast wall with square piers supporting modern metal gates leading to rear bitmac yard. A number of neighbouring historic buildings are located to the north-east including Second Kilrea Presbyterian Church (HB03/01/011), 67 Maghera Street (HB03/01/010), and the telephone kiosk (HB03/01/028).

Roof: Slate
RWG: Cast-iron
Walling: Ashlar sandstone, lined-ruled and rendered
Windows: Timber sash

Historical information

The Northern Bank building was constructed on a previously undeveloped corner of ‘plantation’ land in 1884-85, to the designs of Thomas Turner.

Leased by the Worshipful Company of Mercers’, who owned a large estate of which Kilrea was the capital, and occupied by the ‘Northern Banking Company’, the site comprised a bank house, office, yard and garden; added to the Annual Revisions (1879-94) in 1885 the value was listed at £50. The building is first shown on the third edition OS map (1905), prior to construction the land was owned by John Smyth who had a house and office in the adjacent plot to the south (Annual Revisions 1865-78).

There were no further significant changes in value. Under the Wyndham Land Purchase Act of 1903 the Mercer’s estate, which had been established during the colonisation of Ulster in the 17th century, was slowly sold off to the tenants. The First General Revaluation (1935) record that by this period the building had been purchased from the Mercers’ Company and was owned by the Northern Banking Company.

During the mid to late 20th century, a single-storey, flat-roofed extension was added to the rear and the interior has been partially modernised.

Rowan (1979) suggests that the style and Italianate detailing is characteristic of the Irish architect Thomas Turner, whose other buildings include Glenavon House in Cookstown (HB09/15/005) and Coleraine Town Hall (HB03/18/001).

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/27/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map (1830)
2. PRONI OS/6/5/27/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map (1853)
3. PRONI OS/6/5/27/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/5/27/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map (1925-33)
5. PRONI OS/10/5/27/5/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey County map (1905)
6. PRONI OS/10/5/27/5/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey County map (1925)
7. PRONI VAL/2/B/5/6A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856)
8. PRONI VAL/2/D/5/5 – Griffith’s Valuation Map (1859)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3A – Annual Revisions (1864)
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3B – Annual Revisions (1865-78)
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3C – Annual Revisions (1879-85)
12. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3D – Annual Revisions (1886-94)
13. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3E – Annual Revisions (1895-1910)
14. PRONI VAL/12/B/29/3F – Annual Revisions (1911-29)
15. PRONI VAL/3/B/6/2 – First General Revaluations (1935)
16. PRONI VAL/4/B/5/5 – Second General Revaluations (1956-72)

Secondary Sources

1. Dictionary of Irish Architects (http://dia.ie/)
2. Alistair Rowan, ‘The Buildings of Ireland: North West Ulster’ Yale University Press (1979)
3. ‘Ordnance Survey Memoirs; The Parishes of Co. Londonderry, VIII [Vol. 27] - Desertoghill, Errigal, Killelagh and Kilrea, 1830-39’ Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast (1994)
4. Curl, James. S ‘The Londonderry Plantation 1609-1914’ Phillimore & Co, Chichester (1986)
5. Kernohan, J.W. ‘The Parishes of Kilrea and Tamlaght O'Crilly A sketch of their history, with an account of the Boveedy Congregation’ Coleraine, (1912)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
U. Historic Associations
X. Local Interest
V. Authorship

Evaluation

A freestanding two-storey with attic, classically styled bank building constructed in 1884-5, to the designs of Thomas Turner. Located on a corner site at the junction between Maghera Street and New Row in Kilrea. The bank is characterised by a curved frontage to the north east corner of the main façade. Architectural detailing is largely intact and some elements of a typical late Victorian interior survive. Sited within an elevated and prominent site the building, in conjunction with neighbouring historic structures, constitutes a significant focal point; and is an example of the eclectic Victorian classical-style, marking a departure from the relatively restrained architectural style of much of the town. The Northern Bank was designed by an important architect and is of considerable local interest to the community.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply- R- Age, S- Authenticity, U- Historic Associations.