24, Milsom Street

Former Bank, now restaurant, located at 24 Milsom Street in Bath. Built in 1865 and designed by William Willcox. The building occupies a prominent position at the junction of Milsom Street and George Street, forming a visual terminus to Milsom Street in conjunction with Lloyd's Bank at No.23 opposite.

The building is constructed of limestone ashlar with a rusticated pennant plinth, polished granite doorcase, and parapeted roof with two ashlar chimney stacks rising from the parapet on the right side.

The Milsom Street elevation comprises four storeys and basement. The first floor features three two-over-two horned sashes set in moulded architraves flanked by pilasters with panels of carved decoration, carved console brackets supporting a bay leaf frieze and moulded cornice, with a pediment to the centre. The second floor has three plate glass horned sashes in shouldered and eared architraves with carved decoration. The third floor displays three plate glass horned sashes in moulded architraves. The ground floor contains two semicircular-headed plate glass windows in beaded reveals with stone sills and recessed panels below. To the right is a five-panel door with fielded panels, entablature, and single-pane overlight, all recessed within a tall semicircular-headed reveal. Two blocked openings occupy the basement within the rusticated plinth.

An applied arcade spans the ground floor with bands of vermiculated rustication, moulded bases, impost blocks, and keystones carved as heads to the semicircular-headed openings. A moulded cornice and parapet with pierced balustraded panels rise above, supporting four dies that form the bases of a giant Corinthian order rising through two storeys. A frieze of carved flowers adorns the moulded sill band to the second-floor windows. The entablature above the giant order features lions' masks to the frieze and enriched modillions. A parapet with pierced balustraded panels crowns the second level, with four dies rising to piers with panels of carved decoration and a further entablature supporting a crowning pierced balustraded parapet.

The swept corner to the left presents a pair of three-panel doors with fielded panels in a bolection-moulded granite surround with pediment and carved panel above. The horizontal design elements continue from other elevations, with panels of banded rustication to the first and second floors, and a panel to the third floor bearing the incised date "AD MDCCCLXV" and a coat of arms.

The George Street elevation is a wider three-window range matching the Milsom Street elevation with more widely spaced elements. Giant order columns are paired at the left and right angles, with a carved panel to the third floor bearing the letters "NP" and "BE". The elevation continues to the left as a single storey with a further five-bay arcade of matching windows crowned by a pierced balustraded parapet. A return elevation to the left overlooks the single-storey range in similar style. Lead and square-section cast iron rainwater goods serve these elevations.

The interior was not inspected, but the single-storey range retains its original banking hall with Ionic columns, enriched modillion cornice, moulded ceiling panels, and an oval lantern light.

Originally built as the National Provincial Bank, this is a highly imposing example of High Victorian bank architecture, commanding significant presence within the streetscape.