Summary

Former bank, now commercial premises; probably built in the mid C19, with later alterations.

Description

Former bank, now commercial premises; probably built in the mid C19, with later alterations.

MATERIALS: limestone ashlar ground floor, rendered above with stone dressings, axial chimney stacks and a slate mansard roof.

PLAN: double-depth rectangular plan, slightly skewed to the south.

EXTERIOR: designed in an Italianate style, the building is of three storeys with an attic. The symmetrical principal elevation has six-windows to each storey, with two blocked on the second floor. The ground floor has been refaced in limestone ashlar, with paired pilasters to each bay, separated in the centre by a shallow panel. There is a sunken apron panel beneath each window, and entablature and cornice above. Stone steps lead up to the outer round-arched doorways which each have a panelled door and fanlight. To the first floor there is a round-arched arcade with archivolts connected by an impost band; each arch is filled with a plate-glass sash window. On the second floor there is a cill band, deep cornice and blocking course, whilst the windows are three-over-six-pane sashes. In the attic there are four dormers with two-over-two-pane sash windows. The rear elevation is partly rendered and with exposed red brick to the upper floors. Windows are six-over-six sashes under segmental heads, with a central double-height projecting entrance taking the form of a staircase tower.

The building was extended at right-angles to the rear in the late C20 to provide parking and further offices.

INTERIOR: understood to be largely remodelled, but noted by the RCHME as having some original features including joinery and a right-hand open-well stair with alternate rods and turned balusters.

History

The building is shown on the 1888 Ordnance Survey Town Plan of Poole as the National Provincial Bank of England; whether the building had a previous use or was purpose-built as a bank is unknown.

During the Second World War the building was used as the Command Headquarters of the Royal Navy at Poole, including supplying naval craft for the D-Day invasion in June 1944.

Reasons for Listing

40 and 42 High Street, Poole are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:
* the Italianate front elevation with good detailing is a handsome presence at the top of the High Street;
* good internal features including joinery and a staircase with turned balusters are thought to survive.

Historic interest:
* as part of the banking history of Poole;
* for the role the building played as Command HQ for the Royal Navy at Poole during the Second World War.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26512199

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)