Ulster Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Detached three-bay two-storey bank, built c.1900, aligned east-west to the south side of Main Street. Rectangular on plan, facing north; two two-storey gabled returns with flat-roof linking block to south (rear) elevation. Roof is pitched slated, limestone copings, ornate chimneystacks to street-side pitch of gables with modillioned corniced caps and beaded red clay tapered chimneypots, moulded cast-iron gutters, rectangular downpipes and ornate moulded hopperheads.

Walling to first floor is limestone ashlar with modillioned cornice over blank frieze, and banded stringcourses to sill-level and between ground and first floor. Ground floor walling has V-jointed rusticated blocks articulated with keystone and voussoirs over windows. Windows are square-headed painted timber 1/1 sashes with horns.

North (main) elevation is abutted centrally by porch. Central first floor window with bead-and-reel moulded architrave with rosettes to corners, and ground floor windows have moulded sills; central square-headed entrance opening has moulded architrave with garlands and panel to central apex, replacement timber door. Porch supported on two Roman Doric columns (fluted to top two-thirds) with pilaster responds; attic-level block course. Porch is addressed by flight of five steps and flanked by modern polished granite-clad wheelchair ramp to right and porch extension to left, both with cast-iron railings.

East gable abutted by lower two-storey building. Exposed gable has limestone chimneybreast with ashlar walling to right and red brick to left, square-headed with stone lintel.

West gable abutted by lower two-storey Central Dining Rooms (HB21/05/001). Exposed gable is blank.

South elevation is abutted by two returns and modern central projecting flat roof extensions. Walling is red brick. East return is three-storey the west is two storey, both are pitched slated, limestone verges, ornate chimneystacks to each at the east side detailed as those on north elevation.

The site has raised enclosed yard to rear; bounded by random rubble, double height outbuilding to east and red brick wall to west and south sides.

Roof: Natural Slate
Walling: Ashlar limestone
Windows: Painted timber 1/1 sashes with horns
Rainwater goods: Moulded cast-iron

Historical information

The building is first shown on the Valuation Revisions town plan of Ballyclare (dated 1916-1931). It is set back slightly from the adjacent buildings, with a slight extension to the rear, now gone. Primary sources material shows that the site was redeveloped at least three times from the period 1857 to 1925.

Valuation Revisions date the bank to c.1925, with a list entry recording a ‘bank house, office, yard and small garden’, occupied by the ‘Ulster Banking Company’, and valued at £80. This replaces an earlier entry dated 1896 on the same plot, describing a ‘licensed house, office, yard and small garden’, valued at £9.

The OS map of 1857 shows a smaller building on the site, described as a 'house, office and small garden', occupied by Robert Percy (leased from William Wright). The rent is given as £5, the rateable value £3.10s.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/1/45/1 -First Edition OS Map (1832)
2. PRONI OS/6/1/45/2 -Second Edition OS Map (1857)
3. PRONI OS/6/1/45/3 -Third Edition OS Map (1902)
4. PRONI VAL2/A/1/45A - Griffith’s Valuation Map (1857)
5. PRONI VAL2/B/1/7B - Griffith’s Valuation Fieldbook (1859)
6. PRONI VAL/2/D/1/18 - Griffith’s Valuation-Town Plan of Ballyclare (1859)
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/1/4/A-E -Valuation Revisions (1864-1905)
8. PRONI VAL/12/B/1/6A-B -Valuation Revisions (1905-1930)
9. PRONI/VAL/12/E/9/4 -Valuation Revisions Town plan (1916-C.1931)
10. PRONI/VAL/12/F/1/41 -Valuation Revisions (1930-1935).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
I. Quality and survival of Interior

Criteria for listing: historic interest

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

Evaluation

An attractive detached three-bay two-storey bank, built c.1900, on the south side of Main Street. The original bank building survives in virtually its original form and is a good example of a civic building in a small market town. It remains an impressive structure that has remained largely unaltered in plan with original fabric and detailing intact.