National Westminster Bank

The National Westminster Bank was constructed around 1902 in a Baroque Revival style. The building is of ashlar and brick construction, with a slate mansard roof and five stacks, all with coped details. It has a chamfered plinth with rockfaced ashlar panels, a channelled rusticated ground floor with a sill band and cornice, an enriched modillion eaves cornice, and coped gables. The building is three storeys plus attics, and has a three-by-four bay facade. The ground and first floor openings have segmental heads and keystones; the windows are primarily 12-pane sashes. A projecting entrance corner features a tripartite sash on each floor and a pedimented dormer above. The rusticated round headed doorcase has a keystone, segmental pediment, panelled double doors, and fanlight. A shallow two-storey oriel bow window projects to the Market Place. This bow window has three sashes on each floor, all with keystones. The Market Place front also has three pedimented dormers. The Stodman Street front has two bow windows and four pedimented dormers. The ground floor of the Market Place front has three glazing bar windows and a panelled door with overlight, while the ground floor of the Stodman Street front has six glazing bar windows arranged 2:1:2:1. The interior banking hall features square Ionic piers and a dentillated cross beam ceiling, along with panelled window reveals and shaped panelled glazed doors. The building occupies the site of the former house of Alderman Hercules Clay, which was destroyed in the siege of 1643; a ceramic plaque commemorating this event is located on the Market Place side.