1 The Square

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Attached three-bay two-storey Italianate former Northern Bank building, built c. 1860, now in use as a shop. Located to the west corner of The Square and Doagh Road. Rectangular on plan with lower modern two-storey extension to west.

Roof is hipped and natural slated with deep overhanging eaves on moulded brackets and cornice; smooth rendered chimney to north, corbelled chimney to west, both with original pots. Scratch-marked painted rendered walls over plinth; chamfered corners, moulded cill course, string course and eaves cornice. Segmental-headed timber casement windows (unless otherwise stated) within moulded surround with keyblock.

Principal elevation faces east and contains a deeply recessed central segmental-headed rebated chamfered entrance opening with moulded surround; segmental-headed double-leaf glazed doors surmounted by segmental-headed transom light, accessed by six tiled steps. Door flanked by large window to each side; top-hung timber casements divided in thirds. First floor has single window to left, pair of windows to right, all square-headed in segmental-headed opening; circular moulding to centre.

South elevation is ruled-and-lined. Two square-headed windows to first floor. Simple cornice without brackets to left. Abutted to left by modern brick building.

West elevation abutted by extension to left and modern brick building to right.

North elevation is ruled-and-lined rendered and comprises large window to left (as east) and timber framed 1/1 sliding sash window to right. Two windows at first floor (left is blind). Abutted at right by extension containing two square-headed aluminium casement windows to each level, and modern brick building containing entrance door.

Setting

Bounded to The Square and Doagh Road by cast-iron railing on rendered plinth wall. Entrance accessed by tiled steps enclosed by rendered walling and square pillars with moulded plinth and coping.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Painted render
Windows timber casement
RWG Cast-iron

Historical information

The bank first appears on the third edition OS map of 1902. The Belfast and Ulster Street Directory of 1874 lists the Northern Bank as the only bank in Ballyclare. The Valuation Revisions first mention a house on the site in the 1880s occupied by John Boyd, with the immediate lessor as David Miller, and the value of the property is £2. No mention of a bank is found in the Valuation Revisions.

The Northern bank was founded as the Northern Banking Partnership in 1809, and is one of the oldest commercial banks in Ireland.

References

Primary Sources
1. PRONI OS/6/1/45/1 - First Edition OS Map (1833)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/45/2 - Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/51/3 –Third Edition OS Map (1902)
4. PRONI VAL/1A/1/45, Townland Valuation map (1834)
5. PRONI VAL/1B/17A, Townland Valuation Fieldbook (1834)
6. PRONI VAL/2A/1/45A, Griffiths Valuation map (1857)
7. PRONI VAL2B/1/7A Griffiths Valuation Fieldbook (1857)
8. PRONI VAL12D/1/4C Valuation Revisions (c1870-1900)
9. PRONI VAL12D/1/45A Valuation Revision Map (1864)

Secondary Sources:
1. Belfast and Ulster Street Directory, 1874.
2. Northern Bank Website - http://www.northernbank.co.uk/en-gb/About-the-bank/Bank-in-brief/Pages/History.aspx

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A three-bay two-storey Italianate former bank, dating from the mid to late nineteenth century and prominently located at the corner of The Square in Ballyclare. Layout and detailing have been substantially altered internally although the exterior of the building still retains original plasterwork with attractive cornice and corner detailing. Although significant in the locale, extensive alterations have compromised its architectural and historic interest.