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Within the
space of nine years,
Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections Advertisement Restored 20/06/2021
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In Service: 2 Feb 1931 to
11 May 1979
Image © 1932 The Architects’ Journal
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A view of the Manager’s room, which is elliptical
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A plan showing the internal layout of the new branch
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The plaque on the parapet is
carved in bas-relief with the arms of the bank, including the well-known
grasshopper. Internally, the walls of
the banking hall and the fittings are carried out in waxed walnut, with ebonised
inlays up to the counter height, and above this the walls are finished in
French stuc, with an entablature cornice of Greek detail, and with a
specially large central light fitting in enriched bronze. The manager's
elliptical room is panelled to door height in similar walnut, with loose walnut
furniture, a pale stone-coloured Saxony carpet and brick-red leather
upholstery to the seats and desk.
The site is in the centre of
Nottingham and forms one corner of the large Theatre Square. The shape is a
quarter-segment of a circle, and in order to overcome its difficulties, and
to take every advantage of the restricted area, it was decided to introduce
two ellipses to form the manager's room and the staircase approach to the
upper floors.For the same reason a revolving central entrance doorway was
introduced, instead of the normal entrance lobby. The ground floor is planned
to accommodate three cashiers, with the usual public space, inquiry desk,
manager's room and waiting-room. The basement floor contains book room,
stationery store, oil fuel heating apparatus and separate cloaks and lavatory
accommodation for the manager and clerks. |
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The first floor is developed
as offices to let, with window lighting on the front and back elevations, and
the second floor is planned as a self-contained flat for the resident
caretaker.The main elevation is treated with a rough Cornish granite plinth,
to overcome the sharp falls of the pavement, and above this the design
consists of a typical Greek Ionic order, worked in Portland stone. The main
entrance doorway and the bank windows are in bronze, and the two small carved
plaques with a grey-blue background and gilt infilling represent the ancient
Egyptian signs for gold and silver. This room is ceiled with an elliptical
dome immediately above the panelled dado,
and the whole of the ceiling is floodlit from the cornice.
Under new management…
Look through any window…
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