Former London, City & Midland Bank

Bank built in 1902-1903 to the designs of John Alfred Gotch of Gotch and Saunders.

MATERIALS: constructed of brick with an ashlar stone principal façade under a slate roof.

PLAN: the building is T-shaped with the principal linear range running roughly north to south. Another range with gable end projects to the west with later extension to the west and south.

EXTERIOR: the principal façade faces east onto High Street and is arranged over five bays with a rusticated ground floor and piers delineating the bays on the first floor. The north bay has a semicircular arch leading to a passage to the rear of the building, with rusticated voussoirs supported by carved capitals with scroll detail. Within the passage the barrel-vaulted ceiling has panel detailing with a central geometric design. The bank’s principal entrance is situated in the bay directly to the south of the passage, with Tuscan pilasters supporting a semicircular pediment containing relief carvings. At the centre is a circular design containing the initials ‘L C & M B’, for London City and Midland Bank. To either side within the pediment are carved garland designs. Above the entrance is an oval window opening with carved surround and scroll pediment. To the south are three further bays, these are identical with pairs of Tuscan pilasters supporting the bank’s projecting fascia. The fascia has a moulded surround and projecting cornice above. Within each of the three bays to the south, is a large window opening under a semicircular arch, lighting the banking hall within. The openings have scrolled brackets in place of keystones, which also support the projecting fascia. There is rusticated stone beneath the windows, with a C21 ATM in the left-hand bay and a night safe deposit box in the third bay. There are iron railings fixed to the building within each bay.

At first floor there is a window within each bay containing a six-over-six sash window, except for the north-end bay which has been blocked. The windows have moulded surrounds and triangular pediments supported by scrolling consoles. Above is a further projecting cornice and stone balustrade parapet wall. The balustrade has two ashlar stone sections with swan neck pediments.

INTERIOR: the banking hall is a double-height space with decorative plasterwork. The lower half of the hall’s walls have timber panelling with plasterwork decoration on the upper section of the walls. The plasterwork is formed of panels between moulded pilasters, each having a central crest flanked by fleur-de-lis design and enclosed by a moulded cornice. The ceiling has deep coffering housing decorative plasterwork within the recesses. At the junction of the ribs of the ceiling is further decorative plasterwork. At the south end of the room, to the rear of a timber-clad pier is a cantilevered staircase. The staircase has a sinuous timber rail and turned balusters. An inserted C20 partition is situated in the centre of the room.