Bank Buildings, Belfast

Bank Buildings
The Bank Buildings (2013)
Location within Greater Belfast
General information
Type Retail
Address 1-27 Castle Street,
29-43 Castle Street
Town or city Belfast
Country Northern Ireland
Construction started 1785
Completed 1787
Renovated 1900
1979-1980
2016-2018
Destroyed 28 August 2018
Renovation cost £30 million (2016-2018)
Client Waddell Cunningham
Owner Primark Stores Limited
Technical details
Structural system Cast iron structure clad in red Dumfries stone
Floor count 5
Design and construction
Architect Sir Robert Taylor (1785)
William Henry Lynn (1900)
Designations
Listed Building – Grade B1
Official name The Bank Buildings

The Bank Buildings is a five-storey, Grade B1 listed red Dumfries sandstone building located at 1-27 Castle Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The building is currently owned by Primark, and was used as their flagship store in Northern Ireland from 1979 until it was destroyed by fire on 28 August 2018.

As a part of renovations between 2016 and 2018, 29-43 Castle Street (formerly Commonwealth House) was demolished and a new building built in its place which was set to be merged with the original Bank Buildings.[1] The new wing of the building appeared relatively undamaged following the fire. The fire damaged Bank Buildings is currently awaiting official approval for a complete restoration and repair of the building.

History

The Bank Buildings, along the left of the image, circa 1900

The Bank Buildings was designed by Sir Robert Taylor and erected by Waddell Cunningham in 1785.[2] The original use of the building was as a bank. Since the four founders of the bank all had the first name of John (Brown, Ewing, Hamilton and Holmes), the bank was called The Bank of the Four Johns.[2] By the turn of the 1800s the bank had collapsed and the buildings became the residence of the Church of Ireland bishop of Down and Connor, Rev. Dr. William Dickson.

In 1805 the building was converted into a shop. Around this time, the area in front of the Bank Buildings was used as a public space for the public execution of criminals. This practice came to an end in 1816. The last three people to be hanged were weavers who had twice attacked the home of their employer, Francis Johnston, in an argument over the wages they had been paid.

In 1853, the store became home to a wholesale drapery firm.[2] Originally Hawkins, Robertson & Co., the business changed its name to Robertson, Ledlie, Ferguson & Co Ltd on the death of Mr. Hawkins in 1878. The business was formed into a limited liability company in 1880. Founded by businessmen William Robertson and Henry Hawkins (Waterford), J. C. Ledlie (Cork), and Robert Ferguson (Belfast), the business soon expanded and became a commercial department store. In 1900 the ground and first floors of the building underwent a major redesign. The architect W. H. Lynn allowed for large plate glass windows to be installed in the lower floors. The department store continued to operate on the first two floors whilst the upper floors were used as a warehouse for the wholesale side of the business.

The building remained under the ownership of Robertson, Ledlie, Ferguson & Company until they were bought out by the House of Fraser group in 1969.[2] The department store still continued to operate from Bank Buildings until Boots took over from House of Fraser.[2] Boots was then forced to move out in 1975. On 9 April, three bombs were detonated inside Bank Buildings. The resulting fire extensively damaged the building. Refurbishments were carried out in 1979 and after 18 months the new owners, Primark Stores Limited established a store.[2] They remain the current owners of the Bank Buildings.

Extension and refurbishment

In 2016, Primark announced it was expanding the building by 30,000 sq ft and refurbishing it, creating 100 new jobs once completed. The expansion cost an estimated £30m and was expected to be completed in September 2018. Commonwealth House, which occupied 29-43 Castle Street was demolished between September 2016 and April 2017 and the extension was built in its place. [3][4]

August 2018 Fire and restoration

On 28 August 2018, a fire broke out at roughly 11:00 BST on the fifth floor or roof of the building, during business hours. Shoppers and staff were evacuated from the ground and first floors, and 11 fire appliances attended. The area around was cordoned off for public safety, and due to falling debris. The roof collapsed and the clock face was burnt out with the hands staying still at about 11:05.[5][6] The fire was still spreading and had covered all floors of the building by 15:00 with more appliances called in to assist. The building suffered extensive damage to all levels. The new wing of the building appeared relatively undamaged following the fire, due to the fact there was a gap between the two as the merge had not yet been complete. On October 9 2018 it was reported that The building is currently awaiting approval from Belfast City Council for an application of planning permission for a complete restoration undertaken directly by Primark of the fire damaged Belfast Bank Buildings.[7]

Bank Buildings Football Club

Representatives from Robertson, Ledlie, Ferguson & Co attended the first ever meeting of the Northern Amateur Football League at Clarence Place Hall on 4 July 1923. The league was open to applications from public bodies, private associations, schools and firms. Although they originally submitted a team for the new league, Bank Buildings Football Club never played a competitive match. They are however considered one of the founding members of the Amateur League.

References

  1. ↑ Mulgrew, John (1 September 2016). "Primark to demolish Belfast landmark building". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Primark fire: History of Belfast's Bank Buildings". BBC News. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Primark Extension". FutureBelfast. Gary Potter. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Carrigan, Christine (24 August 2018). "Primark to take on 100 new staff at revamped Northern Ireland store". Belfast Telegraph. Independent News and Media. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  5. ↑ O'Leary, Abigail (28 August 2018). "Primark Belfast fire: Flames engulf 'number of floors' at historic building after blaze forces evacuation of shoppers". Mirror Online. MGN. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Fire breaks out at Primark store in Belfast". BBC News. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Revealed: Primark plans for painstaking work to restore Belfast Bank Buildings after blaze". Belfast Telegraph. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  • "Famous Belfast Stores: The Bank Buildings". Culture Northern Ireland. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  • "Bank Buildings, Belfast, Co. Antrim (W. H. Lynn)". Irish Architecture. Paul Clerkin. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
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