43 and 45, Spring Gardens

Nos. 43 and 45 Spring Gardens is a former bank building constructed in 1890 by Heathcote and Rawle for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. It is designed in a Baroque style and features a trapeziform plan, made of sandstone ashlar and Portland stone with a slate roof. The building has three storeys, a basement, and an attic, arranged in a 1:5:1 bay configuration.

The facade is characterized by balustraded balconies on the second floor, creating a strong horizontal division. The lower section consists of channelled rusticated masonry with a five-bay centre featuring square giant piers. These piers are connected at mid-level by balustraded balconies and have cross-windows on both floors. Each pier is adorned with a large carved cartouche, while the end bays are designed as two-storey porches, each with a tall round-headed arch. The left porch contains a round-headed doorway with a sculptural tympanum depicting lions flanking a pedimented plaque, while the right porch features a square-headed doorway beneath a pedimented panel and a keyed oculus, along with two small windows at first-floor level. This section is topped with a deep frieze and a prominent mutuled cornice.

In the upper part of the facade, the second floor showcases projected pairs of Ionic columns in the centre and pairs of Ionic pilasters in the end bays, with windows that have pedimented architraves. The left bay is crowned by a three-stage Baroque turret, the right by a segmental-pedimented parapet, and the centre by a low attic featuring two, three, and two-light windows beneath a very tall pedimented gable supported by Corinthian columns and large ramped supporters. The interior is noted for its quality. This building forms a group with No. 47 to the right.