Northern Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Mildly Classical, but relatively plain, two storey, hipped roof bank, (with banker’s residence), of c.1924-25. The building is set on the W side of The Square and has a single storey extension to the N which appears to have been added c.1980.

The front façade faces E and is asymmetrical. To the left of centre on the ground floor is the main entrance with panelled timber double doors and a simple moulded architrave with keystone. The entrance is reached via a short flight of steps which splay out from the door.

To the left of the entrance is a sash window with surround similar to before but without keystone. To the right of the doorway are two slightly broader windows with mullioned and transomed frames and similar surrounds. There is a similar window to far right (contained within the single storey extension). The ground floor windows rest on a cill course. To the first floor are four windows, as those to left of entrance. These windows rest on a broad moulded course with ‘cornice’ as a cill course. This broad couse has plastic lettering spelling out the bank’s name. Plastic projecting sign to the right of the entrance.

The S façade has two sash windows (as first floor front) to the centre and right on each floor. The N façade of the single storey extension appears to be blank. To the first floor of the N façade of the main building is a centrally located window, as S façade.

To the rear there is a large flat roofed single storey section. The W face of this extension is blank. To the N face there is a plain sheeted door (reached via steps). To the S there is another doorway. To the far left on the ground floor of the main building there is a sash window. To the first floor are are similar windows to the centre and left, then (to right of centre) a larger mullioned and transomed window with stained glass, and, to far right, a sash window much as before. The rear face of the single storey section has four modern windows. There is a small window to far left at basement level.

The façade is finished in rusticated render at first floor level with rough cast and in/out quoins to the first floor. The rear section is mainly finished in rough cast (with rusticated and plain render to N face). The building is topped with a dentilled cornice with simple parapet above. Chamfered plinth. The façade is painted.

The hipped roof is covered in natural slate with two cast iron skylights to front and one to S. Tall brick chimney stack to N, rising from parapet. Shorter brick stack to S, rising from roof. The extension to N has a hipped roof also.

The steps to the main entrance have simple geometric railings, which continue across the front of the building (and contain two pedestrian gates and vehicle gates to S.

Historical information

This bank was built by the Belfast Banking Company in c.1924 and was transferred to the newly renamed Northern Bank in c.1970 (when both were taken over by the Midland Bank). The extension to the north appears to have been added after 1978.

The building itself appears to have been constructed partly on the site of a house built some time after 1863. Prior to 1924 the Belfast Banking Co., along with the Ulster Bank and the Northern Banking Co. maintained a part-time (weekly) branch within Crossgar. The ‘Belfast’s’ branch was in operation since at least 1886 and also operated on fair days (the second Wednesday of every month)

References- Primary
1 ‘Belfast and Province of Ulster Directory’ Vols.1-21, 1852-1900, (Belfast, Henderson [1852-65], Belfast News-Letter [1865- ])
2 PRONI OS/6/3/30/3 OS map, 1920, Down 30

Secondary sources
1 C.E.B. Brett ‘Historic buildings…East Down’ (Belfast UAHS 1973), p.49 [This book states that the bank dates from ‘about 1840’,
but other evidence contradicts this.]
2 Noel Simpson ‘The Belfast Bank 1827-1970’ (Belfast 1975), p.257

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
H-. Alterations detracting from building

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

Mildly Classical, but relativey plain, two storey, hipped roof, bank (with banker’s residence) of c.1924-25. To the north side is a single storey extension which was added after 1978.