Hardwick House

Hardwick House is a former bank, later used as a Post Office and now offices, dating to 1866. It was designed by P.C. Hardwick and has undergone 20th-century alterations. The building is constructed of bath stone and has a concealed roof. Situated on a corner plot, the primary elevation faces Agricultural Hall Plain. It features three bays, with a single-storey bay on each side. A paired tetrastyle Ionic portico with six steps and a balustraded parapet extends across the outer single-storey bays. The central entrance has a semi-circular arch with 20th-century glazed doors. Sash windows with raised, moulded surrounds are positioned on either side of the entrance. The outer bays also have sash windows, each topped with a pediment. First-floor casement windows are arched with scroll keystones. Rusticated quoins are present. Above the central entrance is an open pediment adorned with garlands and a crown. A projecting balustraded cornice runs along the top. The elevation facing King Street is seven bays wide, with one storey plus a semi-basement, and a deeply recessed second storey. The first and seventh bays slightly project, each with a sash window within a raised, moulded surround.