Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

James McCallum, 1937. Scottish 17th century details. Asymmetrical 2-storey, 5-bay bank with return 3-bay gable to Strait Path. Varied materials; deep black polished granite basecourse below tooled ashlar sandstone 1st floor with some coursed rubble; elsewhere harled with generous use of tooled and polished ashlar dressings. Slightly advanced outer bays, at right with main bank entrance, at left with doorway to legal offices above bank. Moulded doorpieces to both entrances with carved crest of National Commercial Bank above main bank

entrance, which has flanking side lights. Irregular fenestration in

3 centre ground floor bays; bipartite in 1st floor above bank entrance. 3 ground and 2 1st floor windows in return gable to Straight Path. Margined glazing in ground floor windows; 8-pane upper lights; 1st floor windows with long and short margins, 8-pane upper lights and single pane lower lights to sash and case windows.

Pronounced moulded cornice between ground and 1st floors of right advanced bay continuing along Straight Path gable. Steeply pitched Cornish brown/grey slate roof with wallhead, ridge and mid-roof stacks 5 carved 17th and early 18th century monogrammed pediments and armorials re-set in S return gable. These from the house of Thomas Ogilvy formerly occupying site.

INTERIOR: all joinery and interior finishing woodwork by Scott Morton, Tynecastle Works, Edinburgh; plaster work by A Finnie and Co, Edinburgh. Large banking hall absorbs greater part of ground floor, lit by windows E, W and N. Uninterrupted ceiling span is supported by hexagonal polished wooden columns (all banking hall woodwork in Honduras mahogany); original panelled banking counter with small carved panels depicting hunting, shooting and fishing; original bronzed railings to counter (tellers' booths), the stiffeners with small Scottish lion and saltire finials. Deep moulded foliated plaster ceiling frieze; panelled dato; moulded doorpiece to interior face of main entrance door.

MANAGER'S OFFICE: panelled dado, dated (1937) chimneypiece and panelled cupboards, all Austrian oak.

1ST FLOOR OFFICES: panelled dadoes, doors and original chimneypieces executed in Columbian pine.

Statement of Special Interest

Originally National Commercial Bank; the legal offices accommodated in 1st floor constructed for Alex Brodie, then agent for Commercial Bank and Town Clerk, and his son and partner, E A Brodie. Built on site of 17th century house of Thomas Ogilvy, later the town house of Baird of Auchmedden.

Bank designed by James McCallum, Architect and Master of Works, Commercial Bank of Scotland. Unusual survival of 2 double 1937 customers' desks (with matching chairs) in banking hall: these still used by clients.

NB. Photographer's shop facing High Street and flanked by Old Castle Gate and Castle Street, also numbered 40 High Street.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.