Former London, City & Midland Bank

Summary

A bank built in 1902-1903 to the designs of Kettering architect, John Alfred Gotch of the architectural practice Gotch and Saunders. The bank is one of a number by Gotch, who worked closely with the London, City and Midland Bank and designed a number of their branches across the country.

Reasons for Designation

The former London, City and Midland Bank in Kettering, constructed to the designs of J A Gotch in 1902-1903, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural Interest:

* the building is one of many designed by Gotch for the London, City and Midland Bank, with the design and execution of the Kettering branch being of notably high quality;

* the bank has been little altered and retains its classical principal façade with decorative stone detailing and plasterwork and panelling within the banking hall.

Historic Interest:

* the bank was designed by J A Gotch, a prolific and well-regarded architect of the period, who had considerable influence in the shaping of the town at the turn of the century.

History

The Kettering branch of the former London, City and Midland Bank was designed by local architect John Alfred Gotch (1852-1942) of Gotch and Saunders. Gotch set up his first independent architectural practice in Kettering in 1879, and in 1887 entered into partnership with Charles Saunders. Their successful association was to last until their joint retirement in 1937, but the practice still exists as GSS Architecture. Gotch was a prolific architect and could turn his hand to almost any building type, designing shoe factories and warehouses, shops, offices, banks, hospitals, schools, public houses, a coffee tavern and a temperance hall. He built a wide range of housing as well as sporting venues, altogether making a huge contribution to the town of Kettering.

The Birmingham and Midland Bank was founded in Birmingham in 1836, later merging with the Central Bank of London in 1891 to become the London City and Midland Bank. Gotch worked closely with the bank and designed a number of their branches across the country. Construction of the Kettering branch of the London City and Midland bank took place in 1902-1903.

The building has seen minor alterations as part of its ongoing use as a bank, this includes the insertion of a half-height partition into the main banking hall and an ATM into the principal façade during the early C21.

Details

Bank built in 1902-1903 to the designs of John Alfred Gotch of Gotch and Saunders.

MATERIALS: constructed of brick with an ashlar stone principal façade under a slate roof.

PLAN: the building is T-shaped with the principal linear range running roughly north to south. Another range with gable end projects to the west with later extension to the west and south.

EXTERIOR: the principal façade faces east onto High Street and is arranged over five bays with a rusticated ground floor and piers delineating the bays on the first floor. The north bay has a semicircular arch leading to a passage to the rear of the building, with rusticated voussoirs supported by carved capitals with scroll detail. Within the passage the barrel-vaulted ceiling has panel detailing with a central geometric design. The bank’s principal entrance is situated in the bay directly to the south of the passage, with Tuscan pilasters supporting a semicircular pediment containing relief carvings. At the centre is a circular design containing the initials ‘L C & M B’, for London City and Midland Bank. To either side within the pediment are carved garland designs. Above the entrance is an oval window opening with carved surround and scroll pediment. To the south are three further bays, these are identical with pairs of Tuscan pilasters supporting the bank’s projecting fascia. The fascia has a moulded surround and projecting cornice above. Within each of the three bays to the south, is a large window opening under a semicircular arch, lighting the banking hall within. The openings have scrolled brackets in place of keystones, which also support the projecting fascia. There is rusticated stone beneath the windows, with a C21 ATM in the left-hand bay and a night safe deposit box in the third bay. There are iron railings fixed to the building within each bay.

At first floor there is a window within each bay containing a six-over-six sash window, except for the north-end bay which has been blocked. The windows have moulded surrounds and triangular pediments supported by scrolling consoles. Above is a further projecting cornice and stone balustrade parapet wall. The balustrade has two ashlar stone sections with swan neck pediments.

INTERIOR: the banking hall is a double-height space with decorative plasterwork. The lower half of the hall’s walls have timber panelling with plasterwork decoration on the upper section of the walls. The plasterwork is formed of panels between moulded pilasters, each having a central crest flanked by fleur-de-lis design and enclosed by a moulded cornice. The ceiling has deep coffering housing decorative plasterwork within the recesses. At the junction of the ribs of the ceiling is further decorative plasterwork. At the south end of the room, to the rear of a timber-clad pier is a cantilevered staircase. The staircase has a sinuous timber rail and turned balusters. An inserted C20 partition is situated in the centre of the room.

Sources

Other
Hargrave, Dr R K, The Life and Works of John Alfred Gotch (1852-1842), Unpublished PhD thesis, University of London (2005).

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