Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank

A bank in the Northern Renaissance style, constructed in rock-faced grey Pennant stone with Bath stone dressings and a slate roof with prominent ashlar-capped end stacks. The building is three storeys tall and four bays wide, with the outer bays being notably narrow. The roof features end copings swept up as shaped gables, with the end stacks rising centrally through them. The ashlar ground floor supports upper floors with flanking bays that are slightly projected, and a balustraded parapet crowns the centre, while the outer bays display ashlar panels with shell-headed niches and finials. The main parapet incorporates a centre block with a curved head. A modillion cornice breaks forward over the outer bays, with a frieze running above the window heads. Windows on the upper floors have small panes restricted to the upper half only, with curved upper angles. The second floor contains a single window to each outer bay and a triple window to each of the two main bays. A sill course runs horizontally across this level. The first floor has windows similar to those on the outer bays but with stone transoms, while the centre displays large ashlar shallow-curved oriels with triple mullion-and-transom windows and stone balustrades. The oriel bases are moulded and carved with curved stepped forms. A string course marks the level of the oriel window heads, with a dentil cornice above the ground floor, also broken forward over the outer bays and above the curved bases.

The ground floor features two broad round-headed windows in the centre, each with moulded arches and keystones, channelled squat jambs with moulded capitals, and sunburst carving in the spandrels. Paired pilasters on a panelled plinth stand between the windows, with a single pilaster on the plinth on each side. The timber glazing comprises three arched lights with barley-sugar turned shafts and six lights in the arch above. Each of the outer bays contains an ornate doorway with a shaped head and an arcaded top-light. The left bank entrance has a moulded door frame, squat balusters to three top lights, and an overall shouldered frame stopped at a high plinth. Above the cornice of the ground floor frieze is a plaque inscribed with "London and Provincial Bank Ltd." Above the cornice sits a small curved pediment. The door itself is a nine-panel design with a shaped head. The right door, serving access to the upper floors, is simpler in design, with a moulded door frame and a two-light top-light but no outer frame, and sits above a moulded plinth.

The left end wall features an external chimneybreast, two single-light windows on each upper floor and ground floor matching those on the outer bays of the main front, and a ground floor bay forming a three-sided projection into the angle with the northwest rear wing. This bay has one light facing south and a two-light window facing southwest, both with transoms, cornice, and balustrades, with iron railings spanning the angles. A projecting wing in stucco with an ashlar parapet and rubble stone gable end faces Red Street. A coped shallow gable stands between raised piers. Paired sashes light the first floor, with a single large sash below set in architraves. A twentieth-century wing was added to Chapel Street. The rear of the main building displays a stucco gable, a large chimney, and an extensive roof, with a lower range of three storeys attached, featuring overhanging verges and a small brick end stack.

The interior has lost its original wooden panelled counters but retains much hardwood detail throughout. The ceiling is panelled with panelled beams and roundels at the joins, beneath a heavy wooden cornice featuring triglyphs in the panelled frieze, modillions, and soffit panels between. A row of detached tall Ionic square pillars crosses the centre space, with pilaster responds on the walls, all raised on high panelled pedestals with panelled lower shafts, panelled mid bands, and fluted upper shafts. The ceiling forward of the pillar row is slightly more ornate than that to the rear, which lacks the pilasters.