Former First Trust Bank

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An almost symmetrical four-bay two-storey red-brick attached former bank; built c.1920 and located on the east side of High Street in Holywood town centre. Square on plan with single-storey entrance porch to NW and a large single-storey flat-roof extension to SE. The building was decommissioned as a bank c. 2008 and presently houses commercial offices to first & second floor with restaurant to ground floor.

Hipped natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles; square red-brick gabled chimneystacks with terracotta pots on sandstone plinth. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods with original cast-iron hoppers. Walling is English garden wall-bonded red brick with sandstone plinth and quoins; sandstone egg-and-dart frieze with dentilled cornice and continuous sandstone sills. Windows are one over one single-glazed timber sliding sash (apart from principal NW and rear SE ground floor elevations) with horns in moulded surrounds with sandstone keyblock and continuous sandstone sills; paired 3/3 timber-framed dormers to roof.

The principal (f'ront) NW elevation is almost symmetrically arranged, comprising raised parapet with projecting sandstone cornice and four hardwood double-glazed replacements windows aligned on ground floor and first floor levels. Painted signage onto brick above first floor windows. Entrance porch to left and entrance to right of ground floor. Projecting sandstone porch with channelled rustication accessed via four stone steps, containing double-leaf six-panelled timber door with ornate spider-web transom light, flanked by pilasters with moulded architrave and keyblock, surmounted by cornice and blocking course on ornate console brackets. Entrance to right is accessed via four stone steps, comprising six-panelled timber door with brass door furniture and transom light. Sandstone surround with carved grape and vine detail to upper section; decorative moulded lintel with keyblock surmounted by dentilled cornice.

The side NE elevation of the front block has three windows at ground floor (those to either side are slenderer) and two windows to left of centre at first floor. Painted signage onto brick above cornice. Two-storey hipped roof return to rear of front block has two window openings close together to ground floor and a blank wall above (obscured beneath signage). Further single-storey flat-roofed return to rear of hipped roof section has two window openings.

The rear SE elevation, at second floor level, has a dormer window to left of centre; abutted at left and right by hipped roof square bay returns (that to left, containing the accommodation stairwell, is narrower). At first floor level, window and brick chimney to left return; right return has two windows at southwest elevation; two windows to northeast elevation. Between returns is glazed double leaf access door that appears to be a modern replacement in existing opening. At ground floor level, to single storey return, original toilet windows have been replaced with large, glazed panel and access door with roller shutter over and awning above. Original door to N replaced with glazing and accommodation door to S remains as access to kitchen G08.

The SW elevation is abutted by adjoining building; the exposed section is blank.

Setting
Situated at the centre of High Street, with High Street Presbyterian Church (HB23/20/012) to north and attached to four-bay two-storey rendered building to south. Set back from the road, with dwarf wall comprising red brick with sandstone coping and cast-iron railings and decorative latch gates to entrances to form boundary. Ramp rising from ground level to entrance porch. Tarmacadam access to rear car-park at left, bounded to neighbouring church by rubble-stone wall having large sandstone pier with pointed cap.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Red brick
Windows: Timber
RWG: Cast iron

Historical information

No. 74 High Street, a two-storey redbrick building, was constructed c.1920 when it first appears on the fourth edition Ordnance Survey map (1920-21) as a square-shaped building situated on the south side of High Street. This bank was originally constructed for Northern Bank by Godfrey William Ferguson (c. 1855-1939) who was architect to the Northern Banking Co. designing many of their branches throughout Northern Ireland (Chatterton; Dictionary of Irish Architects). The current edition of the Ordnance Survey map indicates that the rear extensions were constructed between 1921 and 1957-58.

Joanna Martin records that there was a resurgence of growth in Holywood in the early 20th century during which time a number of business and professional premises were constructed (Martin, p. 16). Crosbie includes a c. 1910 photograph of High Street in her pictorial history of North Down which shows that a number of two-storey cottages occupied the site of the current bank (Crosbie, pp 72-73). Merrick records that these cottages, were part of an L-shaped enclave called Gray’s Court, dated c. 1840, and stood until they were demolished to make way for the construction of the bank building which, according to the Dictionary of Irish Architects, was built in 1921. In 1986 Merrick records that occupation of the bank had passed to T.S.B. which bacme First Trust Bank in 1991 (Merrick, p. P. 27). A Solicitors firm occupied offices on the first floor of the bank building.

The building was decommissioned as a bank circa 2008 and presently houses commercial offices to first & second floor with restaurant to ground floor.

Field inspection has found that the interior of the bank has been significantly renovated resulting in the loss of much original fabric, however the historical character of the building remains unaltered.

References

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/3/4/1 – First Edition Ordnance Survey map 1834
2. PRONI OS/6/3/4/2 – Second Edition Ordnance Survey map 1858
3. PRONI OS/6/3/4/3 – Third Edition Ordnance Survey map 1902
4. PRONI OS/6/3/4/4 – Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1920-21
5. PRONI OS/6/3/4/5 – Fifth Edition Ordnance Survey map 1931
6. F. Chatterton’s ‘Who’s Who in Architecture’ (1923)
7. Ordnance Survey Map 130-4 (1957-58)
8. First Survey Record HB23/20/079 (1993)

Secondary Sources

1. Crosbie, J. E. M., ‘A tour of North Down: 1895-1925’ Belfast: Friars Bush Press, 1989.
2. Merrick, T., ‘Holywood: An illustrated history and companion’ Donaghadee: Cottage Publications, 1993.
3. Merrick, T., ‘Buildings of Holywood’ Holywood: Holywood Advertiser, 1986.

Online Resources

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

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
H-. Alterations detracting from building
I. Quality and survival of Interior
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

S. Authenticity
V. Authorship
Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance
X. Local Interest
R. Age

Evaluation

A four-bay, two-storey, red-brick attached former bank building; built in 1921, designed by architect Godfrey William Ferguson who was architect to the Northern Banking Co., designing many of their branches throughout Northern Ireland. Located on High Street, Holywood, Co Down, the former bank is sited in a row which contains two other listed buildings, High Street Presbyterian Church (HB23/20/012) on the Northeast side, and the Public Library (HB23/20/013) on the Southwest side. This former bank building is representative of Edwardian freestyle architecture with a loosely classical style, and retains fine stonework detailing to the exterior. Although the interior has been refurbished, some interior historic fabric and detailing remains. A good example of commercial architecture and representative of the period, the former bank building retains historic character adding to its local interest.

General comments

FILE PA'd 16/04/15