Former Bank, 431-441 Newtownards Rd, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT4 3HT

A three-storey five-bay wide building in neo-classical style dating from 1918 to designs by the Belfast based architectural firm Blackwood & Jury. L-shaped plan form and a single storey return. The building is located to the N side of Newtownards Road. Flat roof with asphalt covering having modern skylight and lightwells to single storey return. Two rectangular section ashlar limestone chimney stacks to E and W gables with corbelled coping and red-clay chimney pots. Decorated cast-iron hoppers to N elevation discharging to rectangular section downpipes. Ashlar limestone walling with banded rustication to the GF. Square headed window openings with moulded stone cills to N elevation and plain stone cills to rear, all having replacement uPVC casement windows (unless otherwise stated). North elevation: Symmetrical principal elevation is five-bays wide and faces N. Square headed door openings to end bays, rusticated surround and pronounced keystone having eight-panelled timber doors with fanlights and brass ironmongery. Three windows to central bays with continuous moulded cills to GF, topped by moulded cornice. Three central bays to upper floors are slightly recessed, with the central bay forming a shallow breakfront flanked by rectangular section pilasters and rising as a modest attic block with carved frieze depicting the Belfast Coat of Arms. Plain frieze and raised parapet to remainder. South elevation The rear elevation is three-storey with a three-storey return to W and a single storey extension to E. Three-bay wide red-brick S facing elevation to W end and four-bay wide rendered elevation facing E. The three-bay wide recessed S facing elevation to E end is rendered. uPVC guttering discharging to circular downpipes. West elevation: The W elevation is rendered and abutted by the neighbouring two-storey building 416 Newtownards Road (of little interest). East elevation: The E elevation is in brick partly rendered and abutted by the neighbouring two-storey building 411 Newtownards Road (of little interest). Setting: The building fronts onto the Newtownards Road with neighbouring buildings adjoining both sides. The rear elevation faces onto a narrow alley and is enclosed by a red-brick wall with a square-headed opening to a modern flush door giving access to the rear yard. The rear yard has concrete finish and a modern concrete staircase leading to the roof over the single storey extension. A metal staircase connects the top of this roof with a door at upper floor level. Materials Roof: Flat roof with felt roof covering RWG: Cast iron/ uPVC to rear Walling: : Ashlar limestone to front/ rendered brick to rear Windows: Replacement uPVC casement windows