The Union Bank Westgate Huddersfield Yorkshire

 New BANK AT HUDDERSFIELD - The directors of the Halifax and Huddersfield Union Bank have selected the design of Messrs. Paull and Ayliffe, of Manchester, for the new bank to be erected at Huddersfield. The style is Italian, freely treated, and the drawings show a considerable amount of richly-carved stonework in the design. The building will be proceeded with as soon as possible, and carried out under the superintendence of the architects. The cost will be between £6,000 and £7,000. [Building News 11 December 1863 page 921]

This building for the Halifax and Huddersfield Union Banking Company is among the most recent structures in this thriving and important town. Its erection was greatly retarded by a local strike of masons which occurred in the summer of 1865, and lasted eighteen consecutive weeks.   

Designs were obtained in limited competition from three architects in 1864, and the plans of Messrs Paull & Ayliffe, of Manchester, were selected. The works were in great part carried out under their joint superintendence; but after a dissolution of partnership, were completed by Mr Paull. The walls are built of rubble stone, faced with fine‑tooled ashlar wall‑stones, in regular courses, and lined with brickwork. The front apartments of the ground and first floors were arranged for the Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce, the upper room being used as an exchange and news‑room and the lower for council meetings.  The banking‑room is lighted by a dome, containing stained glass by Edmundson & Son of Manchester. This room is octagonal. It is well finished, the columns being of Aberdeen red granite; the carved capitals and bases etc. of free‑stone; and the mouldings of Keene's cement. The fittings are executed in wainscot oak with Spanish mahogany counter and desk tops and ebony mountings, all arranged under the special oversight of Mr James Bowman of Halifax, the managing director. Vaulted cellars extend throughout the basement, warmed and ventilated for deposit of valuables, and two spacious safes are provided, fitted up with galvanised iron shelving and wrought iron doors.

The arrangements include a residence for the cashier, the kitchen being on the first floor, same as the dining and drawing rooms, and communicating with the basement by a balance lift. The external shafts in the elevations are from Messrs. Freeman’s granite quarries at Penryn. The carving was executed by Mr W. Green of Manchester. Mr Dovey of Manchester provided the gas fittings and other internal metalwork. The building was erected by local contractors as follows: Masons work by Messrs. ...ham & Sons; carpenters’ and joiners’ work by Messrs. Fawcett & Sons; slating by Messrs. Godwin; plastering by Mr Jowitt; plumbing and glazing by Messrs. Lidster and Armitage; smiths’ and founders’ work by Mr  G. Scholefield and painting by Messrs Webster and De..ge. The clerk of works was Mr John Gill. The cost of the building and fittings, exclusive of site was about £8,500. The internal decorative painting is to be executed during the summer of this year under the direction of Messrs Paull & Robinson. [Builder 22 May 1869 Page 406 and 407]

UNION BANK BUILDINGS, HUDDERSFIELD. — The Builder gives a view of this new Bank, which appears to be a handsome structure. In describing it, the Builder says that designs were obtained in limited competition from three architects in 1864, and the plans of Messrs. Paull & Ayliffe, of Manchester, were selected. The works were in great part carried out under their joint superintendence ; but after a dissolution of partner- ship, were completed by Mr. Paull. The walls are built of rubble stone, faced with fine-tooled ashlar wall-stones, in regular courses, and lined with brickwork. The front apartments on the ground and first floors were arranged for the Huddersfield Chamber of Commerce, the upper-room being used as an exchange and news-room, and the lower for council meetings. The banking-room is lighted by a dome, containing stained glass by Edmundson & Son, of Manchester. This room is octagonal. It is well finished, the columns being of Aberdeen red granite; the carved capital and bases, &c, of freestone; and the mouldings of Keene's cement. The fittings are executed in wainscot oak, with Spanish mahogany counter and desk tops, and ebony mountings, all arranged under the special oversight of Mr. J. Bowman, of Halifax, the managing director. Vaulted cellars extend throughout the basement, warmed and ventilated for deposit of valuables, and two spacious safes are provided, fitted up with galvanised iron shelving and wrought-iron doors. The arrangements include a residence for the cashier, the kitchen being on the first floor, same as the dining and drawing rooms, and communicating with the basement by a balance-lift. The cost of the building and fittings, exclusive of site, was about £85OO. The internal decorative painting is to be executed during the summer of this year under the direction of Messrs. Paull & Robinson. [Bradford Observer 27 May 1869 page 5]

Reference    Builder  12 December 1863 Page 878 -Competition for Bank at Huddersfield
Reference    Building News 11 December 1863 page 921
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 9 July 1864 Page 2 (Contracts)
Reference    Builder 22 May 1869 Page 406 and 407 with ground floor plan and perspective
Reference    Bradford Observer 27 May 1869 page 5 from The Builder
Reference    Huddersfield Chronicle 11 May 1867 page 8- detailed description