Former Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey, three-bay building with an attic, built of red brick with sandstone dressings, designed in a free Baroque style. It comprises a replacement ground floor facade in a modern style, with the main facade set back behind it. Original features include timber sliding sash windows, vertically hung, 1 over 1, with horns, pedimented to the first floor, but given rusticated keystones to the second floor. Rusticated giant pilasters to central bay with curved pediment to top floor containing horse-shoe shaped window. Original cast iron hoppers and downpipes. The building stands in the main street of the town, the main facade containing original features set back slightly from the building line, and abutted to each side by two-storey 19th century buildings with shops.

Historical information

Designed as a Northern Bank by Godfrey Ferguson, architect, and completed in 1908; contractors, Henry Laverty & Sons.

References - Primary

1. The Irish Builder and Engineer, 23 July, 1910, p 465.
2. Photograph in the Green Collection, UFTM (WAG 528).

Secondary

1. D. Corcoran, A Tour of East Antrim (Friar’s Bush Press, Belfast, 1990), p 4 (reproduces photograph from Green Collection).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Originally a building of architectural interest and merit by an Irish architect of note, it still retains the upper part of its front facade intact but has suffered drastic alterations to the lower part.