Ulster Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A 5-bay 2-storey stuccoed block in Italianate style. Main entrance faces south.

South elevation: gabled roof of Bangor blue slates in regular courses. One chimney, smooth rendered, with cornice and frieze; four stub pots. Walling is of painted render, smooth to upper storey, rusticated to lower storey, with moulded plinth, quoins to extremities, plain platband at first floor level, moulded eaves cornice and frieze with paired shaped brackets. Cast iron downpipe. Windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, 1 over 1, with horns, paired about central panelled pilasters, with lugged and heeled surrounds, and shaped brackets; a single window of similar character occupies the central space above the entrance.
Entrance marked by a raised semi-circular arched surround with moulded cornice, panelled pilasters, and keystone, containing a rectangular timber panelled door surmounted by a semi-circular fanlight. Entrance approached by a flight of steps contained by low smooth rendered walls and pedestals surmounted by original cast iron railings; railings extend across front of building from pedestals, on a smooth rendered plinth, returning in a curve to front face of building.

West elevation: west gable of two storeys with attic storey; wall is smooth rendered, lined and blocked; painted projecting coping which continues across base of chimney; cornice, rusticated quoins, and platband of front elevation all return a short distance on west gable except no return quoins to ground floor; ground floor has the remnant of an arch projecting from it, formerly leading to rear of building. One window to first floor, timber sliding sash, 1 over 1 with horns; two windows to attic, semi-circular arched timber sliding sash, 1 over 1, with horns.

Rear elevation: roof slated and walls rendered as previous, to west elevation.
Main rear wall to left of rear return: windows are rectangular timber sliding sash, 1 over 1, with horns, except one window at ground level which is modern timber fixed light with side-hung casements. Semi-circular arched stair window, of timber fixed lights.
Rear return has timber windows of modern type fixed lights and top-hung vents, and pvc fixed lights.

East elevation: east gable is similar to west, with returning quoins to ground floor as well as first floor; looks like cast iron downpipe; two attic windows only, as to west gable. Projecting from it at ground floor level at the south side is a single storey block with monopitch roof containing an automatic banking machine: smooth rendered walls, rusticated to front, lined and blocked to side; moulded cast iron gutter and cast iron downpipe; roof slated as previous.

SETTING: The building stands facing the main street of the town, with a lower modern building alongside it to the west, a modern shopping centre behind it, and a side yard to the east. Side yard has a pair of widely spaced gate piers of what look like modern construction; steel railed gates, but closed off by modern wooden fencing. Rear yard has concrete surface; bounded by plain smooth rendered walls.

Historical information

Built in 1886 as a branch of the Ulster Bank, to the designs of Thomas Jackson, architect, of Belfast.

References – Secondary Sources

1. UAHS, Antrim and Ballymena (Belfast, 1969), p 8.
2. H. Dixon, 'Honouring Thomas Jackson, 1807-1890 (Architect)', Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society, Proceedings and Reports, Second Series, Vol 9, 1978, p 29.

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

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

Evaluation

This is a victorian bank designed by a well known Irish architect, which retains it Italianate style entrance façade. Despite its loss of interior layout and some detailing it remains a building of substantial quality.