Former National Westminster Bank, Grade II* listed bank building in Spring Gardens, Manchester, England.
The former bank at the corner of Spring Gardens and York Street is a red sandstone building topped with a distinctive cupola and corner tower. Doric columns, broad plate glass windows with bronze fittings, and ornamental brackets define its carefully crafted exterior.
The building opened in 1902 as Parr's Bank, designed by architect Charles Heathcote during Manchester's expansion as a financial center. The Edwardian-era design reflects the city's rising importance as a hub of capital and commerce.
The interior with green marble and mahogany panels shows how banks once used lavish materials to display their financial power. These rich finishes were meant to inspire confidence and impress visitors with the institution's status.
The building is centrally located in Manchester and easily accessible by public transport. It now houses a restaurant and bar where visitors can experience the well-maintained interior spaces in a relaxed setting.
The broad plate glass windows with bronze frames and stained glass panels were specifically designed to flood the banking hall with natural light. This open approach to illumination was unusual for banks of that era, which typically aimed to appear more guarded and closed off.
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