Former Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 2½ storey 5 and 2 bay detached corner building with flat roofed extension.

Former main entrance to banking hall (concern shop) on chamfered corner, narrow entrance, 8 panelled door, slightly recessed, with wide rusticated pilaster on each side set in shallow projecting flat roofed porch with frieze and cornice. Above a single window, sliding sash 2 pane with arched label moulding, rusticated quoins above porch, flat eaves with modillion supports, ogee gutter. 2 steps rise to door.

Elevation to Market Street, 5 bays long, 1st 2 bays form breakfront to distinguish bank from Manager’s living accommodation. Single ground floor sliding sash 2 pane window with segmented head, moulded architrave and keystone. Over 2 sliding sash 2 pane windows with deep reveals, lugged architrave, carried up to form semi circular panel with floral infill and monogram NB in small circle with hood moulding, rusticated keystone, moulded corbels under cill. A flat panel cill and at window head encompasses main facades of building.

To Moyle Road with 2 ground floor windows as before and 2 blank 1st floor windows decorated as before. End of façade terminating with quoins. Eaves as before.

The living accommodation to Market Street, 3 bays wide, has a central 4 panelled, fielded door, with fanlight, slightly recessed with plain pilasters on each side with frieze and cornice. On each side sliding sash 2 pane windows set in lugged architraves, segmented heads, rusticated keystone. At 1st floor 3 sliding sash 2 pane windows as before. Stringcourses, eaves likewise. Roof slated, gabled with 2 chimneys at each end. Roof over bank appear to be partly flat with hipped roof in centre.

Gable next Market Yard has single round headed window. Rear of banking hall has single window at 1st floor and 2 windows to rear of living accommodation one of which was probably to landing of stair leading to attic.

There is a large flat roof extension to the rear which was done when the building was a community hall.

Walls are smooth rendered and painted on Market Street and Moyle Road facades. There is a rendered boundary wall to the fronts of the building enclosing a narrow area. The coping has an odd semi-circular crenellation treatment.

The building, detached from Market Yard and with a large space, used as carpark, from Moyle Road, is freestanding. It is not well maintained.

Historical information

The Northern Bank was established here in 1858 when the Market was active and moved there from 28 Ann Street to where it returned in 1970. The building was erected in 1863. The property was purchased by the Catholic parish and used as a community centre when the rear extension was erected. Recently it has been purchased by McHenry Brothers. It is said that the walls of the Bank are built with stones from ruins of Castle formerly adjacent to the Trinity Church.

References

Primary Sources
1. Dallat, A Glenman’s Diary 1984-86, Coleraine Tribune Feb. 1956.

Secondary Sources
1. UAHS, Glens of Antrim. p. 50

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

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A former Northern Bank building with attached living accommodation built in early 1860s in an opulent Victorian manner as befitted a financial house anxious to attract business from the nearby market. An interesting architectural solution on a corner site with integrated manager’s house. Building from Moyle Road spoiled by 1970s extensions. Of local historic interest.