Old Bank Buildings

The Old Bank Buildings comprise shops and offices dating to 1895, designed by T.M. Lockwood. The building is constructed with timber framing to the front and City Walls, white glazed brick to an internal light-well and rear, and a brown tile roof.

The building has cellars and three storeys, with two bays, a narrower, covered entrance bay, and one further bay. The ground floor features an arcaded front with end posts, an intermediate post, and a bracket to Eastgate; the posts likely conceal stanchions. The arcade has plinths and capitals with vase balusters to the front and brackets to the bressumer. Modern shopfronts occupy the left side of the entrance and one to the right. The first floor has a shallow jetty with running vine carving on the fascia, and is close-studded with three 6-light mullioned and transomed windows. The central four lights of each window form a bowed or canted oriel on carved brackets, two of which are in the form of dragons. The second floor also has a bold jetty supported by six dragon brackets, with two mullioned and transomed oriels to the left and centre, and a composite casement window to the right; all windows have leaded glazing. The left end of the arcade is open, revealing the structure above, while the corner turret features a copper cupola roof with a tall finial, a common element in Lockwood’s designs. The right end of the City Walls has a stone-dressed flush plinth of hard red brick, with small timber framing to the gable ends. Two stone-dressed shaped brick chimneys, a rainwater pipe, and head are also present.

A square light-well of white brick is located behind the building, with mullioned and transomed windows. A tall square chimney stands at the back left corner. A close-studded second floor and a close-studded gable are present on a wing behind the light-well. A lower, close-studded wing extends towards the City Wall, featuring a 15-panel basket arched oak door. A two-storey brick wing to the rear has a hipped roof and three stone-dressed chimneys.

The interior is simply finished, with a broad open-well stair with ornate cast-iron balustrade to the first floor and a simpler balustrade above.