Former Midland Bank, 1-3 High Street

A former bank in the neoclassical style, built in 1921 for London Joint City and Midland Bank.

MATERIALS: external walls of ashlar and stucco.

PLAN: the building forms an irregular rectangle on plan, with a curved corner between the High Street and King Street elevations. The other two elevations are not visible as they abut neighbouring buildings and a small rear courtyard.

EXTERIOR: the building occupies a corner plot with a bull-nose entrance flanked by a three-bay elevation to High Street and four bays to King Street. The external walls are of stucco or ashlar with banded rustication to the upper walls resting on a plain ashlar plinth, that to King Street dropped slightly lower to incorporate taller windows. Each elevation has one double-height window per bay; these are deeply recessed and have round-headed arches and rusticated voussoirs. The windows are divided by giant Doric columns supporting a moulded entablature with dentil and modillion cornice. Above this the parapet has vase balustrades. The entrance is to the curved corner between the two elevations and has modern double doors set within an elaborate doorcase with fluted edges and bay-leaf and floral mouldings below the projecting cornice. Above this the entablature and parapet from the side elevations are continued across the curve but with the addition of triglyphs to the frieze.

INTERIOR: the ground floor comprises a long banking hall with a two-position counter towards the eastern end, plus a small, separate office room against the west wall. There is also a back office spanning the width of the building. These spaces all have suspended ceilings and modern treatment. The principal staircase rises from next to the entrance, while the secondary staircase is positioned at the opposite end beyond the service counter and has turned balusters of timber. The principal, open-plan office in the centre of the first floor has a coffered ceiling with dentil cornices. This was presumably the ceiling of the original banking hall, which would have been a double-height space, with the inserted first floor now cutting across the tops of the arched windows facing King Street. There are three smaller offices to the west side at the top of the principal staircase plus a kitchenette to the east side. It is understood that the property has an extensive basement.