Former National Westminster Bank On Corner At Junction With Spring Gardens

MANCHESTER

SJ8498SW YORK STREET 698-1/28/445 (North side) 04/01/72 Nos.1 AND 3 former National Westminster Bank on corner at junction with Spring Gardens

GV II*

Bank. 1902, by Charles Heathcote,for Parr's Bank. Red sandstone on grey granite plinth, slate roof. Rectangular plan with splayed corner to Spring Gardens. Vigorous Edwardian Baroque style. Three unequal storeys and attic, 1:5:1 bays to York Street including the corner, which has a domed turret. The ground floor, which is taller than the next 2 floors together, has banded rectangular piers supporting coupled Doric columns with shaped entablatures from which inverted consoles rise (between the 1st-floor windows), and a large round-headed window filling the width of each bay, with moulded head, scrolled keystone, and plate-glass glazing with enriched bronze "ferramenta" including a horizontal mid-panel, bottom panels with stained glass, and arched upper lights with margin panes. The 1st floor has 3-light mullioned windows with eared architraves and triple keystones, and a prominent enriched cornice with modillions; the 2nd floor has arcaded segmental-arched windows with festoons between each group of 3; and the attic has 3-light dormer windows with shouldered architraves and segmental pediments. The 6th bay (at the right-hand end) differs: it is 4-storeyed to the same height, breaks forward slightly, has an open semi-circular pediment, a doorway at ground floor with emphatic Baroque architrave including blocked coupled columns and segmental pediment, a 2-storey canted oriel above (with little windows in heavy surrounds at 1st floor and a cross-window at 2nd floor), and a round-headed window at 3rd floor with enriched pilastered architrave. The splayed corner to the left has octagonal piers framing a large round-headed doorway with enriched granite surround, a pair of windows at 1st floor with Gibbs surrounds and triple keystones, an elaborately-detailed 2-stage feature above (rising into the turret) including a curved balcony with elegant Art Nouveau railings and a broken pediment containing a cartouche; and a cylindrical Baroque turret with projected Ionic aedicules, prominent modillioned cornice and domed lead roof with a lantern. Six-bay return side to Spring Gardens matching the York Street facade. Interior: imposing and richly decorated banking hall.

Listing NGR: SJ8408498297