bank/financial institution — O'Connell Street Upper

Attached five-bay three-storey neo-Classical former Insurance office, built 1861-63, to designs of David Bryce, having substantial pedimented hexastyle portico to upper floors. Converted to bank 1952 and ground floor altered. Currently vacant. Pitched slate roof with brick chimneystacks and ashlar sandstone parapet with breakfront and moulded coping behind pediment. Cast-iron hopper and downpipe to front elevation indicating gutters are concealed behind parapet. Walls of ashlar sandstone with chamfered granite plinth to ground floor. Moulded sill course to second floor and moulded entablature course to first floor window heads. First and second floors fronted by hexastyle ashlar sandstone portico with fluted Corinthian columns on shared carved base surmounted by entablature with dentillated cornice and pediment. Substantial carved tympanum to pediment depicting 'Wise and Foolish Virgins' by John Steell and framed by carved cornices and architrave with mutules and dentils. Painted ashlar stone ground floor having pilasters flanking openings, surmounted by moulded platbands and dentillated cornice with lead flashing. Square-headed window openings throughout, having ashlar sandstone architrave surrounds to second floor and Doric pilasters to first floor. Recessed stall risers and stone sills to ground floor openings. Ogee horned single-pane timber sliding sash windows throughout. Square-headed door opening flanked by engaged pilasters, having moulded cornice over linking pilaster heads. Double-leaf timber-panelled doors surmounted by timber lintel and panels opening directly onto street with folding metal security gate.