18 And A Half, Sekforde Street

This is a former bank, dated 1840. A plaque on the ground floor fascia reads "INSTITUTED A.D.1816. ERECTED A.D.1840". The building is likely constructed from stone, or perhaps stucco, and is now painted with a Welsh slate roof. It is two storeys high over a basement, with a five-window facade. Designed in the style of a Renaissance palazzo, the outer bays are set back. The ground floor has banded and chamfered rustication. The outer bays feature round-arched openings; the opening to the left is now an entrance. Between these are seven flat-arched openings, now windows, set within antae. The windows and entrance glazing appear to be metal and likely date from the early 20th century. A fascia and moulded cornice are present. The first-floor windows are round-arched, with engaged columns and palm-leaf capitals on the outer bays, featuring an archivolt and balustrade to the sills. The inner bays have three Venetian windows with Corinthian columns set back under a round arch, only the middle window having the outer arch glazed. Quoins are present on the projecting central bays, and the fascia is inscribed 'FINSBURY BANK FOR SAVINGS'. A dentil and modillion cornice is also present, with stacks located between the outer and inner bays.