former Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Imposing three storey granite building on east side of Trevor Hill in Edwardian freestyle.

Roof is pitched natural slate with overhanging eaves. Single cement render chimneys to each gable and one to rear pitch. Semicircular profiled metal rainwater goods with three downpipes to facade.

Facade has three slightly projecting bays to end and centre, with raised gables, pediment to centre and semicircular heads to ends. The central bay is bow fronted to ground and first floors. Walls to facade are smooth granite ashlar in rusticated bands to ground floor and squared coursed rubble to upper floors. All details are in smooth ashlar granite.

Main entrance is to ground floor left. Pair of modern timber doors set below a segmental headed plain transom light. Door stands within a deeply recessed opening with banded rustication to the reveals and head. Over doorway is an enlarged, projecting keystone, which supports the apex of a projecting, broken pediment, which forms a porch over the doorway and rests on ornate granite consoles. To ground floor right bay is an identical pedimented opening. The lower section has been infilled with modern granite walls (with ATM inset). Above is a 3/1 (bottom pane mirror glazed) segmental headed window. The keystone of this opening is decorated with flat carved foliage.

The central, bow fronted bay has three fixed 1/1 timber windows. Each is separated by a banded rustication mullion. The remaining walls, between the central and the side bays each have a similar window. All openings have chamfered reveals and rest on a continuous plain granite cill. Above, over window head, is a plat band with frieze, set below the first floor cill course. Carved into the frieze, and painted gold, are the words, 'NORTHERN BANKING COMPANY LIMITED'. The words 'Banking Company' are on the curved bay, ‘Northern and Limited’ are on the wall to its left and right.

To first floor the side bays project slightly and the central bay is bowed. The walls between central and side bays are blank rock faced granite with an ashlar band linking each bay at window head level. There are three 1/1 sliding sash windows to each bay. All are set within a chamfered opening, with granite mullions between each window; and all have smooth ashlar surrounds. Over the windows to left and right bays is a moulded, scrolled pediment resting on small decorative corbels. Three windows to the central bay have a plat-band and frieze over, with a dentilled blocking course terminating the bow. Cills to side bays are slightly higher and plainer than those to central bay.

At second floor all bays project slightly, but central bay is not bowed. Each side bay has an ashlar pier rising up each corner. These rise above eaves level and support a semicircular copped gable with foliated carved ashlar block to spring of arch at each side. Central bay has stepped ashlar quoins to each corner of projection, these rest on scrolled blocks (in
setting the width of the projecting bay at this level), below cill level which rest on the first floor bow roof. The quoins rise above eaves level and support a panelled block, upon which rests a copped gable. Walls between the bays are plain with a dentiled, projecting eaves course.

Rear elevation

Rear elevation is abutted to left by an L-shaped return, which enclosed a small yard at rear. A modern single storey extension now infills rear yard, wraps around return and projects into rear garden.

Rear elevation is cement rendered with a raised eaves course. At first floor there is a 1/1 sliding sash window to left and similar to right. To centre is a metal escape door leading onto flat roof of rear extension. At second floor right, in line with first floor opening is a 1/1 sliding sash window. To second floor, centred between the first floor window and door is another 1/1 sliding sash.

Rear return has a hipped, L-shaped roof with terracotta ridge and lead dressings. Wall are cement rendered with raised eaves course as rear elevation. Its left cheek is rendered and blank. To left of right cheek the second section returns. Remainder of right cheek has a small 1/1 stained glass sliding sash to left at first floor and a stained glass transom landing window between first and second floors. To second floor left is a similar transom window.

Rear wall of return is wide and continues to right to enclose the yard. It is partially abutted to ground floor by the single storey extension. Remainder, to left, has a modern flight of steps up to flat roof of single storey extension. At first floor are four openings. To left, over steps to ground floor is a pair of 1/1 sliding sash windows in a single opening, second from left is a sheet metal escape door leading to roof of single storey extension. Third on right is a pair of 1/1 sliding sash windows in a single opening and to left is a single 1/1 sliding sash window, with extractor vent in top sash. All windows have grills over. To second floor are four openings, all in line with first floor openings. Two left openings are small 1/1 sliding sashes and others are larger 1/1 sliding sashes. Right cheek of return has a single 1/1 sliding sash at ground floor left.

Single storey kitchen extension has a large decorative dome to its roof (over infilled yard area). Its rear wall has five equally spaced openings these are all 1/1 sliding sashes with exception of that to extreme left which is a modern sheet metal escape door.

Historical information

The Northern Bank had been on this site since about 1867, occupying a house shown on the 1835 map. The 1894 photograph shows this earlier building to have comprised a manager’s house at left and banking hall at right. Its façade bears no resemblance to the existing building.

Datestones on the façade of this building attest to its construction in 1923 by the Northern Banking Co Ltd. This date also accords with the valuation book entry. The lack of 19th century internal fittings suggests the whole site was rebuilt not just the façade.

Primary Sources:
1. OS map 1835b edition, PRONI- OS 9/15/1/1
2. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL 12B/22/14A, p.96 (1867 valuation book).
3. Valuation revision books, 1866-1930, PRONI - VAL12B/22/16C, p.69 (1923 valuation book).
4. Photograph no.1174 in the Lawrence Collection (dated 1894).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
X. Local Interest
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance

Evaluation

Imposing three storey granite building Edwardian-style bank. High quality of granite detailing and overall composition. Although the banking hall has been remodelled, most of the interior survives, including the original glazed dome, a classic banking hall feature. This building is not only important in itself but is a significant part of the overall character of Trevor Hill.