Description

YORK

SE6051NW ST HELEN'S SQUARE
1112-1/28/938 (North West side)
01/07/68 No.5
(Formerly Listed as:
ST HELEN'S SQUARE
No.5
The York County Savings Bank)

GV II

Bank. 1829-30; extended 1924; ground floor altered 1991. By
Messrs. Watson, Pritchett and Watson for the York County
Savings Bank. Brick faced with sandstone ashlar, ground floor
rusticated on horizontally ribbed basement; shallow pitched
slate roof with stacks of brick faced with ashlar.
EXTERIOR: 2 storey front, 1 and half bays to St Helen's
Square, 3 and half bays to Blake Street on either side of
curved corner bay; half bays flank corner bay. Extension of 3
low storeys and 3 bays at right end of Blake Street front.
Corner bay entrance has double doors of shaped panels, with
Doric column jambs and shaped overlight above, in tall
architrave beneath segmental hoodmould on moulded brackets:
doors are recessed behind folding ironwork gates, and
overlight has scrolled grille. Overlight transom inscribed
'SAVINGS BANK'. First floor is articulated by fluted Composite
columns and plain pilasters supporting entablature with plain
frieze and moulded cornice. Windows on both floors are 1-pane
sashes, those on first floor with semicircular fanlights inset
in round-headed openings, and with architraves and transoms
enriched with incised Greek key ornament. Corner bay crowned
with shaped pediment of volutes framing a panel with words
'SAVINGS BANK' carved in low relief.
Blake Street extension has subsidiary door of fielded panels
in pedimented doorcase at right end. Ground floor windows are
margin glazed: first and second floor windows treated as
single element, to match those of original building, but with
wider transom. At right end of cornice is rectangular
rainwater head dated 1924.
INTERIOR: former boardroom on first floor, now subdivided: 3
bays articulated by Corinthian pilasters, with blind arcade of
round arches opposite windows in round-arched architraves.
Panelled double doors. Ceiling coffered by beams enriched with
oak-leaf and acorn decoration. Room in extension has reset
fireplace with composition ornament of urns, garlands,
rinceaux and drops.
(Murray H, Riddick S & Green R: York through the Eyes of the
Artist: York City Art Gallery: 1990-: 86; City of York: RCHME:
The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 203).

Listing NGR: SE6015351979

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• York County Savings Bank Building at Wikipedia
• York County Savings Bank Building at Wikipedia
• Wikidata IDs Q115803884 Q26548239

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

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2