Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A symmetrical two-storey-with-attic, three-bay bank, built 1869 and located to the north side of Church Street in Dromore town centre. Rectangular plan with single-storey annexe to west and two-storey flat-roof extension to rear.

Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks to gables. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on projecting eaves cornice on profiled brackets. Walling is ruled-and-lined painted render with sill course at each floor. Windows are replacement 2/2 timber-framed sash to first floor flanked by panelled pilasters with ornate console brackets surmounted by a round-headed pediment with heavily ornamented tympanum and keyblock (“NB” lettering to centre of tympanum). Segmental-headed replacement 1/1 timber-framed sash to ground floor in moulded architraves having dentilled cornice, decorated spandrels and keyblock.

The principal elevation faces south and is five openings wide to each floor. To centre at ground floor is a Tuscan doorcase with plain entablature containing a replacement metal-framed entrance door with transom light. Accessed by disability ramp.

The west gable has two round-headed 1/1 timber-framed windows to attic; abutted at ground floor by the single-storey annexe, having a timber-mullioned 1/1 window in lugged surround with dentilled cornice to south elevation.

The north (rear) elevation is abutted to centre by the two-storey flat-roof extension; 2/2 window to centre at attic. Replacement windows to first and ground floor to either side of extension.

The east gable has two round-headed 1/1 timber-framed windows to attic; abutted at left by a wall enclosing the rear yard, containing a carriage-arch with timber-sheeted gates.

Setting

Set back from the street with original cast-iron railings to front. Enclosed rear yard is partially lawned and has a detached garage and modern single-storey outbuilding.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: render
Windows: timber
RWG: Cast-iron

Historical information

The two-storey stucco Northern Bank on Church Street Dromore was constructed c. 1869 first appearing in the Annual Revisions in that year having replaced a number of low value dwellings that had previously stood on the site during Griffith’s Valuation (1861). The site was owned outright by the Northern Bank Co. and was valued at £40; the valuer also noted that the first manager of the new bank was a Mr. William Lamont who also resided at the bank.

The 1901 Census records that a Mr. James Lawson was manager of the bank at the turn of the 20th century; Lawson (37, Church of Ireland) resided at the bank with his wife Sarah (28) and their two infant daughters; the census building return described the building as a 1st class bank and dwelling that consisted of 10 rooms and possessed a number of out offices to its rear which included a stable, a fowl house and a turf house; by 1911 the Bank was managed and occupied by a Mr. John Smith (48) and his family. John Smith continued to reside at the Northern Bank until at least 1918 (Ulster Town Directory); there was no alteration to the valuation of the bank by the end of the Annual Revisions in 1930.

In 1974 Brett described the Northern Bank as ‘a fine five-bay two-storey stucco building ... with Doric doorcase; round headed windows on ground floor; above, square headed windows with curly ornate tympana, incorporating the letters NB [Northern Bank], within semi-circular hoods with masks on the keystones.’ Brett suggested that the architect may have been Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon. Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon was an architectural partnership between Charles Lanyon (1813-1889), William Henry Lynn (1829-1915) and Charles Lanyon’s eldest son John (c. 1840-1900). Brett’s theory appears likely as the partnership also designed the Northern Bank in Scotch Street Armagh, whilst Lanyon designed a bank for the Belfast Banking Co.; both these banks stylistically resemble the facade of the bank building in Dromore. The Northern Bank would have been one of the last projects completed by the partnership which dissolved in 1872 (Brett, p. 25; Dictionary of Irish Architects).

The bank on Church Street in Dromore was listed in 1977 and continues to operate as the local branch of the Northern Bank in the town. The single-storey flat-roof extension to the rear of the building, the only major addition in the building’s history, was added sometime prior to the current edition of the Ordnance Survey map in 1973.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/21/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1833
2. PRONI OS/6/3/21/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1859
3. PRONI OS/6/3/21/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1903
4. PRONI OS/6/3/21/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1919-20
5. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/38A – Griffith’s Valuation 1861
6. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/10A – Annual Revisions 1864-1878
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/10B – Annual Revisions 1879-1891
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/10D – Annual Revisions 1892-1898
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/11A – Annual Revisions 1899-1910
10. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/11B – Annual Revisions 1911-1919
11. PRONI VAL/12/B/16/11C – Annual Revisions 1920-1930
12. First Survey Record – HB17/15/024 (1969)
13. Ordnance Survey map – 202-4SW (1973)

Secondary Sources

1. Brett, C. E. B., ‘Historic buildings, groups of buildings, areas of architectural importance in the towns and villages of Mid Down: Hillsborough, Dromore, Dromara, Ballynahinch, the Spa, Drumaness and Saintfield’ Ulster Architectural Heritage Society, 1974.

Online Resources

1. Dictionary of Irish Architects - http://www.dia.ie

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

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
S. Authenticity
X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A symmetrical two-storey-with-attic, three-bay bank, built 1869. Architectural detailing is well-preserved, with some restoration works, including replacement fenestration and carved keystones to first floor windows. A good example of a late-nineteenth century bank building, in the style favoured for commercial buildings of the period, attributed to a noteworthy architect and with much character and fabric surviving.

General comments

New listing criteria R & S to be added when available.