Description
James Thomson (Baird and Thomson), 1859-60. 3- and 4-storey
commercial building, 8 x 12 bays. Symmetrical northern block
8 x 7 bays and additional 5 bay, 4-storey southern block on
Hope Street. Polished ashlar. 2nd and 3rd floor continuous
moulded cill band; dentil band, eaves modillion cornice,
solid parapet with panelled piers. All windows sash and case
in architraves, plate glass.
NORTHERN BLOCK: ground floor polished granite plinth rising
into door surround for bank entrance, channelled ground
floor, plain aprons; 2-light window in E bay, pilastered
entry to upper floors, rest of windows single-light with
unusual 3-pane horizontal glazing, ground floor modillion
cornice. 1st floor windows consoled and corniced with
sculpted paterae frieze and independent mutule cornice; 2nd
floor cill band; main entablature with pulvinated, panelled
frieze, dentil band modillion cornice.
SOUTHMOST BAYS TO HOPE STREET: floor levels arranged to give
3rd floor of same height as 2nd in main block, all linked by
main cornice. Ground floor with modern shops. 1st floor
windows consoled and corniced; 2nd floor corniced. Main
entablature with plain frieze.