Hsbc Bank

HSBC Bank, formerly known as Midland Bank, is a bank building constructed in 1834 by George Webster for the Bank of Westmorland, with a lion sculpture added in 1840. The building underwent internal alterations in 1912, and the railings and steps were rebuilt in 1923 and 1966. It features ashlar stonework on a rough-dressed plinth. The first-floor sill band is interrupted by pilasters at the three central bays, which support an entablature displaying the bank's name, topped by a life-size sculpture of a recumbent lion on a plinth with scrolled supporters. The building has an eaves cornice and a blocking course, along with a graduated slate roof that has corniced stepped stone end chimneys. It is two storeys high and consists of five bays arranged in a 1:3:1 pattern. The central entrance has a panelled door and a rectangular fanlight set in a pedimented architrave, approached by steps that run parallel to the front. The windows are sash style with glazing bars; the ground-floor sashes in the outer bays have shouldered Egyptian architraves, while the first-floor sashes feature architraves with bracketed cornices.