Diamond Dolls, 50 Bridge Street, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 3JU

Former Bank, now Commercial Premises — Built c.1830, Remodelled 1921

This is a two-bay, three-storey-over-basement former bank with a dormer attic, built around 1830 and significantly remodelled in 1921 to designs by architect Nicholas Fitzsimons. It stands on the west side of Bridge Street in the centre of Banbridge, prominently sited at the northern end of the town's main thoroughfare. The listing covers the former bank building and its railings. Although the current appearance largely reflects the 1921 remodelling, the fabric of the building dates from the early 19th century. The plan is rectangular, with a single-storey extension to the south and various two-storey extensions to the rear.

Architectural Description

The roof is pitched natural slate with blue/black angled ridge tiles and a rendered chimney stack. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods are carried on bracketed timber eaves. The walling is a combination of materials: squared uncoursed basalt with raised stone quoins and dressings to the upper floors; ashlar Portland stone to the ground floor; and Flemish-bonded red brick on a basalt plinth at basement level.

Windows vary by floor: 3/6 timber-framed sash windows to the second floor and 8/8 timber-framed sash windows to the basement, both with granite sills; timber transomed and mullioned casements with leaded cames to the top panes, set within an ashlar canted bay at first floor; plate-glass windows with multi-paned upper sections to the ground floor; and a multi-paned gabled dormer to the attic.

The principal elevation faces east and is three windows wide at second floor with a canted bay window to the centre at first floor. At ground floor, the facade is extended to the left to incorporate the single-storey extension. Three openings are divided by stone Doric columns on plinths and surmounted by a plain entablature, with applied steel lettering to the frieze reading "Diamond Dolls". To the left are two plate-glass windows with multi-paned upper sections. To the far right is a double-leaf, four-panelled timber door surmounted by a multi-paned transom light, accessed by a set of stone steps enclosed by cast-iron gates. The basement is enclosed by railings, with two windows to the left. A basement entrance porch sits beneath the perron and has a four-panelled timber door with a multi-paned transom light and side-light. Concrete steps lead down to the basement and are enclosed by a modern plinth wall and metal railings.

The south elevation has a round-headed window to the attic and a 3/6 sash window to the first floor. At ground floor it is abutted by the single-storey extension, which is fitted with a modern glass shop-front. The west (rear) elevation features irregularly arranged fenestration and a dormer window to the left, and is abutted by three small extensions of varying heights with a variety of window openings. The north elevation is abutted by the adjoining building. To the rear there is a yard enclosed by a high masonry wall. In recent years the side of the building, formerly open behind the gateway, has been roofed over.

Historical Background

The building was opened as a branch of the Provincial Bank in 1832, though it is almost certainly of earlier date — the Townland Valuation of 1828–40 assigns it a quality mark of "a-", indicating a structure already more than 20 years old at that time, and the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1833 shows it already in place, rectangular on plan with a garden to the rear. The Provincial Bank's annual report of May 1833 recorded that the Banbridge branch had been selected as "a station affording the promise of respectable and useful business", with business commencing on 24th June 1832. The report makes no mention of a new building, referring only to putting in progress "the necessary measures for establishing a regular branch bank", making it probable that the bank adapted existing premises. In the Townland Valuation the bank, offices and yard were valued at £26, with the cellar at that time being used as a kitchen.

The Provincial Bank had been established in 1825 with a capital of £2,000,000. At the time of its Banbridge opening, the head office was in London and the bank had 20 branches throughout Ireland. According to a commercial dictionary of 1840, business at each branch was "conducted, under the control of the head office, by the managers, with the advice and assistance of 2 or more gentlemen of respectability in the district, each holding ten shares in the bank." In 1828 the bank experienced a severe run, requiring support from England of £1,000,000 in gold. By 1840, however, it was used by the government for excise, post-office and stamp revenues in areas where the Bank of Ireland had no branches.

The bank's establishment in Banbridge reflected the town's position at the height of a boom in the linen trade. Banbridge was the marketplace for one of the most important inland manufacturing areas in Ireland, and the construction of smart town houses and commercial premises during this period reflected its new prosperity. The building is a direct link to that linen heritage of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

As was customary for banking houses of this period, the building contained residential accommodation for the bank manager, who lived on the premises. The Townland Valuation records dimensions for both the house and cellar, and by the time of Griffith's Valuation (1856–64), the Provincial Banking Company held a "house, offices, yard and small garden" valued at £44 10s, later raised to £50. The manager at that time was Robert Thompson and the building was leased from Edward Greer; the valuer described it as "a very fine strong house", though not in a good "business situation". By 1864 the manager was recorded as R J Friel. The 1901 and 1911 censuses record the bank manager as Arthur Haire, who lived with his wife and adult daughters; also resident was widower David Dougan, who worked as a bank porter.

A collection of early photographs of Banbridge by Young and Quail contains an image of part of the bank taken in the early 1900s, before remodelling. It shows a three-bay, three-storey building of Georgian proportions with eight sliding sash windows and a semi-circular headed gateway to the side. The original stonework and quoins appear to have been retained through the remodel, but the original windows had brick surrounds.

In 1921 the bank was given a new front and internal modifications were carried out, along with additions to the rear. An oriel window was added, and the ground floor and side entrance were given a classical treatment. The dormer window was probably also added at this time. The valuer's notebook for 1921 gives a plan and dimensions including measurements for the bank itself, a manager's room, a stationery passage and a safe. As a result of the improvements, the valuation was doubled to £100. Who's Who in Architecture of 1923 records the architect of the remodelling as Nicholas Fitzsimons, who was at the time in partnership with Frederick Henry Tulloch, formerly of Graeme Watt and Tulloch. Fitzsimons worked on a number of bank premises for the Provincial Bank, the Belfast Bank, and the Bank of Ireland.

The First General Revaluation of 1933–34 revalued the bank, house and offices at £140. The accommodation was described as comprising a fairly good public office, two private offices, one strong room and lavatory accommodation, with a common vestibule serving both bank and house. On the ground floor of the house was a porter's room and hall. The basement contained a kitchen, scullery, two pantries and a store cellar. The first floor had two reception rooms and a parlour at the front, and at the rear a bathroom with separate WC and linen cupboard. On the second floor were three bedrooms and one dressing room, with two front attic dormer windows completing the accommodation on the third floor. To the rear was an enclosed yard with stable buildings adapted for use as a garage and a garden plot. The valuer noted that the "imposing elevation" at the front had been rebuilt and that the "back portion is an old building not originally built as a bank." In contrast to the earlier valuer's observations, the bank was by now described as being on a "fairly good site in the main street." By 1940 the valuation had been lowered to £130, on the grounds that despite the imposing front, the rear was considered "old."

The second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1860 shows Banbridge as a much-expanded town, by then connected to the railway network following the opening of the Banbridge Junction Railway in 1859 and the Banbridge and Lisburn Railway in 1863. By that date the bank had flourished and had been extended to the rear.

A white marble memorial tablet in the porch of Scarva Street Presbyterian Church commemorates James Johnston Esq, manager of the bank in the mid-19th century, who died in 1863 while returning home from Australia, where he had travelled for the sake of his health.

In 1966 the Provincial Bank merged with the Munster and Leinster Bank and the Royal Bank of Ireland to form Allied Irish Bank Ltd, which later operated in Northern Ireland as First Trust Bank. A survey photograph taken in 1988 shows the building operating as an Allied Irish Bank at that time. The premises has since been converted to use as a beauty salon and clothes boutique. In recent years the façade has been refurbished with some alterations, including the rearrangement of the steps, though much of the original character, including the evidence of its historic development, has been preserved.