Northern Bank, 22 Church Street, Dromore, County Down, BT25 1AA

Northern Bank, Church Street, Dromore

A symmetrical two-storey-with-attic, three-bay bank built in 1869, set back from Church Street with original cast-iron railings to the front. The building replaced low-value dwellings that stood on the site during Griffith's Valuation of 1861. It is a fine example of late-nineteenth-century bank architecture, likely designed by the architectural partnership Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon, whose members were Charles Lanyon, William Henry Lynn, and Charles Lanyon's eldest son John. The partnership dissolved in 1872, making this one of their final projects.

The principal south-facing elevation is five openings wide to each floor. The walling is ruled-and-lined painted render with sill courses at each floor. At ground level are segmental-headed replacement 1/1 timber-framed sash windows in moulded architraves with dentilled cornices, decorated spandrels and keyblocks. To the centre is a Tuscan doorcase with plain entablature containing a replacement metal-framed entrance door with transom light, accessed by a disability ramp. The first floor features replacement 2/2 timber-framed sash windows flanked by panelled pilasters with ornate console brackets. Above these are round-headed pediments with heavily ornamented tympana and keyblocks inscribed with "NB" lettering at the centre.

The pitched natural slate roof has blue and black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystacks to the gables. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods are mounted on projecting eaves cornices supported by profiled brackets. The west gable has two round-headed 1/1 timber-framed windows to the attic; at ground floor it is abutted by a single-storey annexe with a timber-mullioned 1/1 window in a lugged surround with dentilled cornice to the south elevation. The east gable similarly has two round-headed 1/1 timber-framed windows to the attic; at ground level it is abutted by a wall enclosing the rear yard, which contains a carriage-arch with timber-sheeted gates. The north rear elevation is abutted at its centre by a two-storey flat-roof extension, which was added sometime before the 1973 Ordnance Survey map edition and represents the only major addition to the building. This extension features replacement 2/2 windows to the attic and replacement windows to the first and ground floors either side of the extension.

The building has rectangular plan with the single-storey annexe to the west and the two-storey flat-roof extension to the rear. The enclosed rear yard is partially lawned and contains a detached garage and modern single-storey outbuilding.

Architectural detailing is well-preserved despite some restoration works, including replacement fenestration and carved keystones to first-floor windows. The building demonstrates considerable character and survival of original fabric.

Historically, the Northern Bank was owned outright by the Northern Bank Company and valued at £40 when first constructed. Its first manager was William Lamont, who resided at the bank. Census records show that James Lawson managed the bank in 1901, with his wife Sarah and two infant daughters residing there; the building return described it as a first-class bank and dwelling of ten rooms with numerous outbuildings including a stable, fowl house and turf house. By 1911 the bank was managed by John Smith and his family, and Smith continued to reside there until at least 1918. There was no alteration to the property's valuation through to 1930. The building was listed in 1977 and continues to operate as the local branch of Northern Bank.