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

Former Bank, 431-441 Newtownards Road, Belfast

This three-storey five-bay building in neo-classical style was constructed in 1918 to designs by the prominent Belfast architectural firm Blackwood & Jury. The Ulster Bank opened this branch, known as the Connswater Branch, on 2 September 1918. Blackwood & Jury, formed around 1901 and operating until 1973, were the favoured architects of the Ulster Bank and designed at least 25 branches throughout Ireland, typically in English Classical style.

The principal north elevation facing Newtownards Road is symmetrical and relatively austere. It is clad in ashlar limestone with banded rustication to the ground floor. The five bays are divided by square-headed window and door openings with moulded stone details. The two end bays contain rusticated door surroundings with pronounced keystones, each opening containing eight-panelled timber doors with fanlights and brass ironmongery. The three central bays to the ground floor are topped by a moulded cornice. The 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. A carved frieze at the top depicts the Belfast Coat of Arms and is banded top and bottom by a stone ogee moulding. A plain frieze and raised parapet complete the composition. Although windows have been replaced with uPVC casement windows, the original panelled entrance doors and internal timber lobby survive.

The building is L-shaped in plan with a single-storey return to the east. The south and east elevations are rendered brick or red brick, with a three-bay red-brick section to the west end. Two rectangular section ashlar limestone chimney stacks to the east and west gables have corbelled coping and red-clay chimney pots. The roof is flat with asphalt covering, featuring modern skylights and lightwells to the single-storey return. Decorated cast-iron hoppers discharge to rectangular section downpipes on the north elevation.

The building fronts directly onto Newtownards Road with adjoining buildings on both sides. The rear elevation faces a narrow alley and is enclosed by a red-brick wall with a square-headed opening to a modern flush door providing access to the rear yard, which has concrete finishing and modern staircase structures.

The bank's initial rateable value was set at £270 and reduced to £161 in 1927. By the 1930s, the first floor was leased to other firms as office space. During the Belfast Blitz on the night of 15 April 1941, the building was severely damaged when incendiary bombs gutted the top floors by fire. The bank temporarily operated from its branch on Albertbridge Road for two months whilst repairs were undertaken. By the end of the Second General Revaluation (1956-72), the rateable value had risen to £640. The Ulster Bank vacated the premises around 1995, and the building has since been converted to office use. Despite the replacement of windows and some loss of period detail, this former bank remains one of the more significant buildings on this part of Newtownards Road.