Bank of Ireland, 364 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 6GL

Bank of Ireland, 364 Lisburn Road, Belfast

This neo-Georgian style bank was built in 1935 to designs by A.C.G. Millar of Dublin. It is prominently located at the junction of Lisburn and Bawnmore Roads, with spacious forecourts to the road-facing sides. The north-west forecourt is partially bounded by a low, mainly rendered wall.

The original 1935 section consists of a tall single-storey with a fully enclosed basement and a smaller upper floor (undoubtedly added later) obscured by a high parapet topped with urns. Access is via a Classical style doorway set on a bevelled corner facing directly west. The building is L-shaped in plan, set on a north-east to south-west axis, with a small stairwell projection at the intersection of the L. A large extension dating from the 1970s or later wraps around almost the entire south-east and north-east elevations, largely covering the original facades on these sides and practically doubling the footprint. All roof sections are flat and asphalt-covered. The roof of the south-west portion of the original section is set at a slightly higher level and contains the upper floor rooms, lit by four large roof lights, with a projecting chimney stack rising to the east end.

The walls of the original building are constructed in English garden wall bond rustic brick with a tall painted stone plinth, cornice, parapet, door case and window surrounds. Classical style decoration includes drop floral and husk motifs extending downwards from the cornice at regular intervals, similar to the ends of festoons. The parapet features central podium-like blocking courses to each elevation, each topped with urns. A plain boxed section of cornice in timber is topped with scallop-edged lead flashing and appears to be a later addition designed to house cabling.

The main road-facing elevations have tall window openings set in shallow recesses with plain surrounds and panelled aprons. The north-west side has three windows and the south-west side has two, all with timber frames which appear to be replacements. The frames to the south-west have been altered to account for the upper floor now cutting across them.

The entrance is reached via a short flight of recently-tiled steps with a disabled-access ramp to the south-west side. It consists of a timber panelled double door with an overlight containing brass and lead tracery, and a surround with a hood on console brackets. Beneath the hood are floral and husk motifs matching those of the cornice, with wreath decoration within the frieze. To the immediate right of the entrance is a boarded-up space where the ATM was located, and to the immediate left is a small painted stone panel which presumably once held a nameplate. High above each of these are neo-Georgian light fittings.

On the far right of the north-west side is a boarded-up night safe opening with a small later opening with metal door immediately to its left and a letter box to its immediate right. High above is a projecting clock with two angled faces, added after 1987. An original wall extends at the north-east end of the north-west side, with a recent-looking pedestrian gate next to the wall of the neighbouring property. At the south-east end of the south-west side is an original vehicle gateway with iron spearhead gates and a pillar similar to the main walls.

The rear elevations are largely covered by the extension. Several relatively squat high-level windows on the still-exposed upper parts of the original walls all face north-east and have replacement timber frames. The extension itself is constructed in sympathetic rustic brick with slightly different tones indicating various phases of construction, but is plain and functional with little architectural interest. The south-east-facing wall of the stairwell projection is in recent brick.

The building is constructed of brick and painted stone with asphalt roof and timber windows. Rainwater goods could not be observed on the original section of the building. The bank closed in 2021 and was vacant at the time of survey in July 2021.