Description

Later 19th century with mid and later 20th century additions to rear extending to Overhaugh Street. 2-storey (with 3-storey section to rear), 4-bay, rectangular-plan former Liberal Club with plain classical details (now retail premises with upper floors and rear as separate premises, used as nightclub, 2005). Stugged coursed blonde sandstone ashlar to principal (SW) elevation; whinstone rubble with stugged red sandstone margins to side lane; brick sections to side and roof, corbelled corner with stepped chamfered arises to pend. 1st floor band course; eaves band course; corniced 3-bay shop front to left with shouldered arched openings. Arched window (former door) to right; lugged architraved windows to 1st floor.

4-pane timber sash and case; plate glass to ground floor shop front with half-glazed timber double doors, shouldered penlight. Pitched slate roofs, large lead flat section to rear; stone skews, beaked skew-putts, corniced stone stack; conical central ridge ventilator, multiple conical ventilators to rear.

INTERIOR: 20th century alterations to form open-plan ground floor shop interior, no access to upper floor. Comprehensive remodelling to form nightclub in later 20th century flat roofed section linking to Overhaugh Street. First floor not currently open to public (2006); 4-bay open plan space; turned timber stair to 2nd floor timber panelled room, formerly housing the cast-iron public baths; access door to flat roof.

Statement of Interest

42 Bank Street is a well-detailed public building in a refined but restrained classical style. It was purpose built as the former Liberal Men's Club which remained a well-used and well-loved community resource into the middle of the 20th century. The building contributes considerably to the streetscape.

The 1st floor was used as snooker halls for the working men of the town, whilst a small 2nd floor room housed public baths available for use by members who did not have bathing facilities in their own home. A separate door to the right was previously used for the accommodation to the upper floors but is now altered to form a window; the space is incorporated into the general shop floor area.

Dick Peddie, Todd and Jamieson, the well respected firm of Edinburgh architects carried out interior alterations in 1935-6 which included alterations to the ground floor partitions, repositioning the stair, and providing new pool rooms, toilets and domino room with Jacobean style ceiling upstairs.

Originally L-plan with garden ground to the rear, the late 19th century property took up half the distance to Overhaugh Street, subsequent later 20th century additions have created a large building which now fills the site between Bank Street and Overhaugh Street to the rear.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77779502

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.

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