Bank House

Bank House, St Columb Major

Bank, now house. Built in 1857 by William White (1825–1900), with few later alterations. The building demonstrates High Victorian Gothic style and is a fine example of White's architectural practice, reflecting the influence of Sir G. G. Scott, in whose office he worked before establishing his practice in Truro in 1847.

Exterior

The building is constructed of polychromatic dressed stone rubble front, incorporating elvan, slatestone, granite and limestone, with brick. The slate roof features crested ridge tiles and stepped raised coped verges to the gable ends, with a gable end stack to the left and cross finial to the right gable end.

The front elevation is asymmetrical with 3 windows, set on a tall chamfered plinth with weathered buttresses to right and left and corbelled eaves. The building rises 2 storeys on a cellar with attic.

The cellar has two 3-light windows to the left and one single light to the right. Those to the left have stone columns rising to pointed arches, and all cellar windows feature very fine wrought iron grilles in free Gothic design.

The ground floor displays a central 2-centred arched doorway with roll-moulding, plank double doors with strap hinges set diagonally in the woodwork. A hood mould and relieving arch are executed in banded brick and granite. To the left are two 4-pane sashes with 2-centred arched fanlights containing stained glass and banded relieving arches. To the right are 3-light windows with 4-pane sashes, two marble columns between them with chamfered capitals, and 2-centred arched fanlights over polychromatic tiling with banded relieving arches.

The first floor has a double granite string course flush with the wall and three 2-light windows with 2-centred arches and central marble columns with chamfered capitals, all with banded relieving arches.

Three flat-roofed leaded dormers with 2-light pivoted windows and corbels to eaves light the attic. All windows are originals.

The left side has a shallow external stack to the front range and a single pointed arched ventilator to the cellar. The central bay sits over the stair hall, featuring a tall steep 3-storey gabled bay with 4-light chamfered windows at ground and first floors. The attic contains a 2-light window with tracery circle above and pointed arch. To the right is a triple lancet to the cellar with a rectangular chamfered cellar light. The ground floor has a 2-light window with cusped lights and a tall 2-light window lighting the stair, with pointed arches and upper quatrefoil, beneath a half-hipped gable. The end bay to the left has a shallow external stack to the rear wing.

The right side presents the gable end of the front range, 2 storeys with attic. The cellar has a single pointed arched light with matching wrought iron grille. The ground floor shows a 2-light window with 4-pane sashes, central marble column supporting a 2-centred arch with polychromatic tiling and banded relieving arch. The first floor has a 2-light window with a central marble column supporting 2 pointed arches standing free of the window surface, with banded relieving arches. The second floor has 2 lancets with banded relieving arches. The stonework continues as on the front, with a stack to the rear of the front range featuring granite quoins.

Set in the angle to the rear range is a conservatory, appearing to be of later 19th-century date but built on the foundations of an original conservatory. Above it is a multi-pane window lighting the first floor landing.

The rear range features a narrower gable end to the right, with the plinth at ground floor level sloping away to the rear. The first floor has a single chamfered light and paired pointed arched lights with a free marble column and banded relieving arches.

The main rear range has a 4-light chamfered window to the cellar and a pointed arched doorway with strap-hinged door. The ground floor shows a 4-pane sash with 2-centred arch and stained glass fanlight with banded relieving arch, and to the right a similar 2-centred arched single light. At first floor right is a tall narrow 2-centred arched light.

The inner side of the rear wing features a canted bay through cellar and ground floor levels, with a plain door at cellar level. The ground floor has a window with transom and corbelled eaves beneath a hipped roof.

The rear gable end of the wing has buttresses to right and left with a plinth at cellar level. A 5-light chamfered window lights the cellar. The ground floor displays 3 pointed arched lights with stained glass fanlights, chamfered granite surround and banded relieving arch. The first floor has a triple light with 2 free-standing marble columns with chamfered granite arches and banded relieving arch. A small pointed arched light with cross finial lights the attic.

Interior

The interior has undergone very few alterations, with most features designed by William White remaining intact. The front entrance leads to a vestibule to the bank, which is vaulted with chamfered granite ribs and bosses with carved stone masks. Two pieces of slate carved with leaves in low relief are set in the stonework of the rear wall. Half-glazed double doors with pointed arch open to the right.

The banking hall features a stone chimneypiece in Gothic style with granite surround and polychromatic tiles. The windows have stone columns set behind the outer mullions and heavy shutters rising from floor level on wooden runners.

The bank vault, positioned behind the vestibule, contains a heavy door and safe.

The lateral passage runs to the rear, with all doors 6-panelled and chamfered. An open-well stair with panel balustrade and free-flying moulded handrail rises from here. To the rear right, a room has a chimneypiece with cupboards to the sides.

The main ground floor rooms feature shutters in Gothic design with large chevrons at the top. The room to the front left contains a fine stone Gothic chimneypiece in slate and marble with columns to the sides, 2-centred arch and polychromatic tiled surround, with marble mantel and corbelled cornice. The rear left room has a similar Gothic chimneypiece with marble column, 2-centred arch, polychromatic tiles and marble mantel, with corbelled cornice. The window at the rear displays marble columns between the lights and at each side of the bay window, in different coloured marbles. A window seat occupies the rear window, and dado panelling lines the bay window.

At the first floor, all original 6-panelled doors remain with segmental arches. All chimneypieces are in Gothic design, simpler than those below, with wooden mantels with brackets. A fine cupboard with panelled doors occupies the first floor landing.

Plan

The building employs an asymmetrical double-depth plan. The front entrance leads to an internal porch with access only to the banking hall to the right. To the front left is a large principal room. Behind these lies a wide lateral corridor with the stair hall at the left end, rooms to the rear right, and another principal room in a wing to the rear left. The plan remains intact, including functional details such as the vault with safe leading from the banking hall.