Former
Municipal Bank Trustee Savings Bank, Birmingham, UK
Architect
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T. Cecil Howitt |
Date Built
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1931
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Location
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Broad Street
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Description
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This Grade II Listed building on
Broad Street across from the Library of
Birmingham, was once the Birmingham Municipal
Bank. It was designed by the architect T
Cecil Howitt who was also responsible for the
much larger Baskerville House located across the
road adjacent to the library.
It is described in the listing information as, "...
Rectangular plan with entrance, in recessed
centre of front behind colonnade, to large
rectangular banking hall surrounded by
offices. Monumental classical style
building. .... Centre of north front breaks
forward with Tetrastyle colonnade of giant
Ionic columns in antis with broad terminal
piers, flanked by blind rusticated walls
with recessed corners, the returns of the
recesses have tall and narrow decorative
grilles; the entablature has a tall parapet
and blind attic above set back, with a
carved frieze."
"... central round-arched
doorway in moulded architrave with rosettes
and with bronze doors and fanlight grille;
flanking the doorway ornate bronze lanterns."
Inside it had a, "...
Large banking hall clad in polished
limestone, the arcaded side walls with
barley-twist arris mouldings to the
arches and with carved roundels above;
the front wall has small balconettes and
grilles; the ceiling is coffered."
In 2016 the building sits behind hoardings part
of a masterplan for the area around it entitled
"Arena Central". The Birmingham
Municipal Bank was founded by the city's former
Lord Mayor Neville Chamberlain during the First
World War. Initially it had its offices in
the Council House before this building was
erected in the 1930s. The building has
been vacant for more than a decade, but on
November 9, 2016 the Birmingham Mail announced
that the council has given a long lease to the
University of Birmingham that plans to restore
it and use it as, "...
a city centre showcase to display its
research and host performances and
exhibitions."
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