Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Ulster Bank
Newtownards, Ards and North Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Record only (not listed)
- Grade
- Record Only
- Type
- Bank
- Date of listing
- 29 November 1993
- Date of delisting
- 13 March 2002
- Date of construction
- 1920 - 1939
- Address
- Ulster Bank, 22 Frances Street, Newtownards, Co Down, BT23 3DN
- Townland
- Newtownards
- Council
- Ards and North Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.59391, -5.69528
- Date of survey
- 12 June 1998
- HB reference
- HB24/09/031
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of Scotland
Shown on 4 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1891 "Ireland 16" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
Three storey bank (set in the terrace on the N side of Frances Street) opened in January 1926 on the site of an earlier bank, established in 1865.
The building is in rusticated Portland stone in a free classical style much employed by banks of this era.
The front (S) facade has its entrance to the far right on the ground floor, with a sturdy timber panelled door with decorative carvings (including the bank’s coat of arms). To the left of this are three mullioned and transomed windows (that to the far left narrower than the others). To either side of the doorway and windows are pilaster-like piers topped with decorative garlands and ribbons. The piers all support and dentilled ‘entablature’ with cornice and decorative end brackets. The entablature has bronze sans serif letters spelling out the bank’s name. The outer pilasters continue beyond the ‘entablature’ to the full height of the facade. To the first floor are two broad tripartite windows with thick (pier-like) mullions. To the second floor are similar (but slightly squatter) windows with a cornice supported on decorative brackets. Between these windows is the Ulster Bank crest, also in Portland stone.
The facade is topped with a dentilled cornice (supported on end brackets) with a parapet with two dentilled pediments.
The exposed gables of the bank are also in Portland stone, but are plain. Given the proximity of other buildings it is difficult to get a clear view of the rear, however, the facade has been added to on several occasions and is now modern, functional and (architecturally speaking), untidy looking
Behind the parapet lies a gabled roof, whose covering is not visible. Two gable chimney stacks in Portland stone with corbelling.
The frames to the windows are now PVC.
Historical information
The Ulster Bank first established a branch in Newtownards in December 1865. The original premises were demolished in 1923 and a temporary branch opened in High Street. The present premises were built on the site of the original branch and opened for business on 1st January 1926.
References- Secondary sources
1 William J. Knox 'Decades of the Ulster Bank' (Belfast 1965), pp.83-84.
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
Not listed
Criteria for listing: historic interest
Not listed
Evaluation
Three storey bank of c.1925 with Portland stone facade in a free classical style but with a modern banking hall. This bank is set within the terrace on the north side of Frances Street, close to the classical centre piece of Newtownards, the market house.
Nearby in the register
- 3-5 East StreetHouseunder 1 mi
- TOWN HALL CONWAY SQUARE NEWTOWNARDS CO. DOWNTOWN HALLunder 1 mi
- 12 Frances Street & 2-6 North StreetDemolishedunder 1 mi
- THE POST OFFICE (ORIGINAL BUILDING) 8 FRANCIS ST. NEWTOWNARDS CO. DOWNPOST OFFICEunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.