14 The Diamond

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An asymmetrical, two-storey-with-attic eclectic Victorian bank building, built in 1894, to the designs of S.P Close. Executed in sandstone and located on a corner site, the principal building is classical in detailing and rectangular on plan with a canted corner containing entrance to north-west. A similar, lower gabled-building adjoins to the left-gable of the south elevation and the two structures are interconnected, giving an overall L-shaped plan. East gable abuts to adjoining three-storey building.

Pitched slate roof with lead-covered ridges; hipped roof to canted corner, topped with metal ball finial; lower pitched roof of return abutting to south. Sandstone chimneys to south gable of main building and return; rendered chimney to east gable, all having multiple clay pots. Far south and east gables extend above eaves with raised sandstone coping. Modern skylight to south-centre of main roof. Advancing gable to centre of north elevation, breaking through eaves and topped with moulded cornicing and a round-headed acroterion to apex; round-arched window to centre attic and carved husked-garland beneath sill course. Central bay flanked by timber segmental-headed dormer to each side, having 1/1 timber sashes; similar dormer to left-bay of south return. Further wall-headed attic dormers with round-arched window to west; squared opening to west return and south. Replacement metal ogee rainwater goods to projecting eaves course over masonry modillions; half-round cast-iron to rear mounted on plain timber fascia. Walling is coursed, rock-faced sandstone with projecting base-course, ashlar dressings, stepped quoins and moulded string-courses. Walling to south and east elevations is unpainted smooth render with no detailing. Main building has large round-arched window openings to ground floor with in-stepped ashlar architraves, flush splayed sills and projecting keystone to rounded-heads. Those to first floor are square-headed with fluted architraves rising to central segmental pediments (floating pediments to the sides). Windows are generally 1/1 timber sashes (some replacement) unless described otherwise. Main entrance door located in canted bay to north-west, secondary entrance to west encased within plain pilasters, scrolled brackets and topped with a triangular stone pediment. Rear of main building has small lean-to extension at first floor level; east elevation has modern flat-roofed extension to ground floor (of no further interest).

Principal elevation faces north with an advancing breakfront gable to the centre containing two windows on each level and a projecting stone balcony supported on masonry brackets, with stone balustrade and a coat-of-arms. Central bay is flanked by windows on each level; left window opening on ground floor has been recently modified to create a doorway fitted with white metal frame and plain glass. Moulded sill, string and impost courses wrap around principal elevations. Corbelled oriel window to obliquely angled north-west corner having foliated carving to lower panels and surmounted by balustrade and coat-of-arms. Round-arched entrance containing a recessed double-leaf fourteen-panelled timber entrance door with plain glass round-headed fanlight over and accessed via polished stone steps.

East elevation abutted by neighbouring building.

South elevation contains diminutive casement to upper left; remaining left-side abutted by adjoining return to south. Ground floor has exposed English garden wall bonded brick walling with round-arched window. First floor abutted by slated lean-to extension, having three timber casements and single small sash, which projects out from elevation supported on brick walling with round-arched opening to centre.

West elevation of main building is detailed as north with two windows at ground floor and single central window above.

Principal elevation of return faces west and is similarily detailed to main block with window openings arranged around central triangular-pedimented doorcase supported on plain pilasters and scrolled brackets. Windows are square-headed sashes with stepped surrounds and projecting stone sills (stone mullions to upper floors). Timber seven-panelled entrance door has original furniture; plain glass transom (with upper sidelights) over. Other elevations are renderd; north abuts to main building; east has seven windows across upper floors; small lean-to extension to north-east re-entrant angle; flat-roofed modern extension to ground floor (no interest). South elevation blank except for three small timber framed, metal casement windows to ground floor.

Setting
Located in an urban
setting on a prominent corner site within the south-west corner of The Diamond, Coleraine, the western elevation of the building also fronts directly onto Abbey Street. Access to the main building is via the angled bay in the north-west corner or through the recently added universal access door in the far-east of the principal elevation. The upper floors are reached via the secondary entrance in the adjoining building on Abbey Street. An alley-way bounds to the south, having a segmental headed archway with a pedimented top spans between the south gable and the neighbouring terrace. The building is in close proximity to a number of historic structures within the Diamond including the Town Hall (HB03/18/001), the Orr Memorial (HB03/18/002) and No.24 (HB03/18/004).

Roof : Slate
RWG: Replacement metal & cast-iron
Walling: Stone / unpainted render
Windows: Timber sash

Historical information

The present building was constructed in 1892-4 as a branch of the Belfast Bank to designs by Samuel Patrick Close. Close completed a number of designs for the Belfast Bank between 1880 and 1914, and was also much in demand as an ecclesiastical and domestic architect (www.dia.ie).

The second half of the nineteenth century saw banks expending large sums of money and employing notable local architects, resulting in a range of styles among bank buildings that reflect the changing fashions of the era. O’Brien suggests that the system of branch banking led to competition among banks to produce buildings of architectural significance once it became the norm to build purpose-built bank offices rather than adapt pre-existing buildings (O’Brien).

The Belfast Banking Company had opened offices in Coleraine by the end of 1834, possibly on the present site (Simpson). The new bank, on the site of a previous banking house, was entered into valuation records as an unfinished building in 1892 and eventually valued at £110 in 1893. Valuers note that the contract cost £4,000. As was common at this period, the bank building also provided accommodation for the manager who lived on the premises. In 1911 the manager was John Hazlett, who lived in the 13-room, first class building with his wife, two young children and two servants, a children’s nurse and a general domestic. Valuer’s notes of the 1930s give a plan of the building showing the bank building with cash office, strong room, manager’s office and records’ office and dwelling accommodation above and to the rear. The manager still lived on the premises at this date and availed of a reception, kitchen, scullery and pantry to the rear of the ground floor; three bedrooms, a bathroom, WC and two receptions on the first floor and three bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor.

In 1970 the Northern Banking Company Limited, which had been founded in Belfast in 1824, merged with the Belfast Banking Company Limited to form Northern Bank Limited. The company was acquired by Danish-based Danske Bank Group in 2005 (www.northernbank.co.uk). The present building was listed in 1977 and has continued to function as a bank but passed to Santander in recent years, while the upper floors are in use as offices. The introduction of a cash machine and a level access doorway in the period since listing has entailed changes to the main elevation at ground floor level but the building remains, otherwise, much as originally conceived.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/5/7/1 First Edition OS Map 1830
2. PRONI OS/6/5/7/2 Second Edition OS map 1849-50
3. PRONI OS/6/5/7/3 Third Edition OS Map 1904
4. PRONI OS/6/5/7/4 Fourth Edition OS Map 1923
5. PRONI OS/6/5/7/5 Fifth Edition OS Map 1949
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/30/9A-N Annual Revisions (1864-1929)
7. PRONI VAL/3/C/6/4 First General Revaluation 1933-57
8. PRONI VAL/3/D/6/2/A/6 First General Revaluation 1933-57
9. HB file – 03/18/003

Secondary Sources

1. Girvan, W D “Historic Buildings, Groups of Buildings, Areas of Architectural Importance in Coleraine and Portstewart” Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1971-2
2. O’Brien, E “Bank Building in Nineteenth Century Ireland” Irish Arts Review Yearbook, Vol 11 (1995) pp157-162
3. Simpson, N “The Belfast Bank 1827-1970” Belfast: Blackstaff Press, 1975
4. www.dia.ie
www.northernbank.co.uk

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

V. Authorship
X. Local Interest
R. Age
S. Authenticity
T. Historic Importance

Evaluation

A semi-detached eclectic-style, late Victorian bank constructed in 1892-4 as a branch of the Belfast Bank, to designs by prominent local architect Samuel Patrick Close. The building dominates the south-west corner of The Diamond, Coleraine. Although displaying some baronial and Tudor-esque elements, the building is embellished with relatively rich classical devices and detailing, coupled with ornate sculptural motifs on the balconies. The grand and dignified exterior makes the building a very significant contribution to the overall appearance of The Diamond, enriching the historic fabric of central Coleraine.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.