Northern Bank 98 Main Street, Beragh, Omagh Co. Tyrone, BT79 0TB

Northern Bank, 98 Main Street, Beragh

A detached, symmetrical three-bay two-and-a-half-storey bank building, constructed around 1910, situated on the north side of Main Street in Beragh. The building is rectangular in plan with a two-and-a-half-storey return to the rear, abutted by a three-storey extension with a flat roof. Two-storey and single-storey lean-to extensions occupy the re-entrant angle formed by these elements.

The pitched roof is covered in natural slate with raised masonry verges. Cast-iron rainwater goods of ogee profile are supported on a corbel course, with cast-iron rainwater hoppers. Two flat roof dormers pierce the south pitch, each fitted with timber casement windows.

The walls are rendered with ruled-and-lined finish and painted throughout. A projecting moulded plinth of rendered masonry runs around the building. All windows are 1/1 timber sliding sashes set within plain surrounds above a continuous cill course. Ground floor windows on all elevations except the south are protected by cast-iron railings.

The principal elevation faces south and displays a three-part composition: a central entrance door flanked by two windows on each side at ground floor, with five windows arranged across the first floor. The entrance comprises an original single-leaf six-panelled timber door surmounted by a round-arched-headed fanlight. This is set within a deep moulded architrave and flanked by pilasters supporting an entrance canopy fronted by two Tuscan order columns. A brass signage panel is mounted at the centre of the door reading "NORTHERN BANK LIMITED" and incorporates a letter box. The original brass door bell and knocker remain in place.

The left (west) gable features a projecting stepped chimney breast containing a ground floor window. The exposed section of this gable contains three windows, one at each floor level, with those at ground and attic floor diminished in size.

The rear (north) elevation is abutted off-centre at the left by a two-and-a-half-storey return of slightly lower height, detailed in the same manner as the main block. The exposed section of this return contains windows at ground and first floor levels. The right exposed section is abutted by a two-storey lean-to extension with a felted roof. Both the right corner of the main block and the two-storey lean-to extension feature corbelled corners at first floor level, positioned above the entrance to the rear yard. The north gable of the two-and-a-half-storey return is abutted by a lower three-storey extension with a flat roof; the exposed section contains a single window at each floor. The left cheek of this return is blank; the right cheek contains a single window at first floor. The two-storey lean-to extension is detailed as the main block, with its north elevation abutted at ground floor by the end of the single-storey lean-to extension. The exposed section at right contains a single window, with two windows at first floor level (the right window diminished in size). The right cheek is blank. The single-storey lean-to extension has a single window on each face. The three-storey extension with flat roof is constructed in red brick with timber casement windows throughout and is of no architectural or historic interest.

The rear of the bank is enclosed at the south-west corner by replacement metal gates. The building is bounded to north and south by brick walling and adjacent buildings.

The setting is established within Beragh on the north side of Main Street. The building is bounded to the road by original wrought-iron railings mounted on a plinth wall, with access at the centre via similarly detailed cast-iron gates.