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

A two-bay three-storey-over-basement former bank with dormer attic, now commercial premises, built c.1830 and remodelled c.1920 to designs by Nicholas Fitzsimons. Located to the west side of Bridge Street in Banbridge town centre. Rectangular on plan with single-storey extension to south and various two-storey extensions to rear. Pitched natural slate roof with blue/black angled ridge tiles and rendered chimneystack. Cast-iron ogee rainwater goods on bracketted timber eaves. Walling is squared uncoursed basalt with raised stone quoins and dressings to upper floors; ashlar Portland stone to ground floor and Flemish-bonded red-brick on a basalt plinth to basement. Windows are 3/6 timber-framed sash to second floor and 8/8 to basement with granite sills; timber transomed and mullioned casements (top panes with leaded carnes), to ashlar canted bay at first floor; plate-glass windows with multi-paned upper sections to ground floor; multi-paned gabled dormer to attic. The principal elevation faces east and is three windows wide at second floor with canted bay window to centre at first floor. Ground floor is extended at left to include the single-storey extension (described below). Three openings are divided by stone Doric columns on plinths and surmounted by a plain entablature having applied steel lettering to frieze reading “Diamond Dolls”. To left are two plate-glass windows (multi-paned to upper sections); to far right is a double-leaf four-panelled timber door surmounted by multi-paned transom light and accessed by set of stone steps enclosed by cast-iron gates. Basement is enclosed by railings, having two windows at left; basement entrance porch beneath perron has four-panelled timber door with multi-paned transom light and side-light. The south elevation has a round-headed window to attic and 3/6 window to first floor; abutted at ground floor by the single-storey extension fitted with modern glass shop-front. The west (rear) elevation a variety of irregularly-arranged fenestration and dormer window at left. Abutted by three small extensions of various heights with a variety of fenestration. The north elevation is abutted by adjoining building. Setting Prominently sited at the northern end of the major thoroughfare in the centre of the town. Street-facing to east with concrete steps down to basement enclosed by modern plinth wall and metal railings. Yard to rear enclosed by high masonry wall. Roof: Natural slate Walling: Roughly coursed basalt with stone dressings and Flemish bonded red-brick Windows: Variety of timber-framed sash and timber casements RWG: Cast-iron