National Commercial Bank, 5 Main Street, Callander

National Commercial Bank, 5 Main Street, Callander

This is a three-storey, four-bay rectangular-plan building constructed in 1883, possibly designed by David Rhind, though no evidence is known to confirm this attribution. Rhind did design a number of buildings for the National Commercial Bank. The building is now in use as a coffee shop and restaurant to the ground floor, with residential accommodation above (converted in 2004). It holds striking streetscape value and considerable historic local interest as the former National Commercial Bank in Callander.

Originally, the ground floor contained the telling office and ancillary rooms, with residential accommodation for the Bank Manager and his family on the first and second floors. The first and second floors were subsequently arranged to function as a hotel in the twentieth century before being reconverted to residential use in 2004.

The principal façade is detailed with a round-arched door and masque keystone, flanked by a pair of pilasters. The large windows and door to the ground floor are framed by heavy floral consoles which support a projecting enclosed balcony. A box window is arranged to the first bay, giving access to the balcony.

Three large windows to the first floor are set behind the balcony and framed by brackets supporting cornices; the windows run nearly the full length of the elevation. Decorative brackets support the second floor window cills, with a string course running across the entire elevation at lintel height. A deep projecting cornice supports a balustraded parapet.

The rear (north-east) elevation features a large original single-storey outshot to the ground floor with bars remaining to windows, plus various single-storey modern extensions. A large bipartite stair window is set off-centre between the first and second floors. Bars remain to some of the first floor windows.

Interior

Little original fabric remains to the ground floor apart from the private hallway, which contains a fine carved timber stair rising to the first and second floors. Although previously converted to a hotel, much original internal fabric survives to the first and second floors. Impressive over-scaled timber panelled doors are present to the first floor. The two principal rooms to the first floor facing Main Street have been knocked through, creating one large room running the entire length of the principal elevation. This large room is high-ceilinged with elaborate cornice work; decorative window pulls remain, as does a pink marble mantelpiece. Working shutters are present throughout, including to the box window. The second floor bedrooms are much simpler, with surviving timber mantelpieces featuring cast iron inserts and plain cornice work throughout.

Materials

The principal elevation is constructed of blonde ashlar; other elevations are snecked sandstone. Modern glazing and door are present to the ground floor, with predominantly original plate glass timber sash-and-case windows elsewhere. The pitched roof is covered in grey slate. There is a very broad corniced gable apex stack to the north-west, a gable apex stack to the south-east, and various other stacks.