Heritage Statement

Overview

The application is for the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the existing NatWest located at 21 EastGate Street Standishsgate, . NatWest’s first branch in Gloucester originally opened as a branch of National Provincal in 1834. Gloucester at this time was a manufacturing centre with extensive dockyards, and was known for its pin-making industry. The city was also home to a growing number of iron foundries producing agricultural and milling implements for the surrounding area. The population of Gloucester had been increasing steadily throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and by 1831 the city had over 14,000 inhabitants. National Provincial Bank of England had been founded in in September 1833. From the outset it intended to establish a nationwide network of branches, and Gloucester was to be its very first. The branch opened in King Street on 1 January 1834. It was an immediate success, and even though the traditional industries in the city began to decline in the middle part of the nineteenth century, the construction trades flourished. Following the coming of the railway to Gloucester in 1840, the city also became known for the manufacture of railway carriages. By 1843 increasing demand for banking services in Gloucester meant that the branch had outgrown its original King Street premises. A new purpose-built branch building was erected in Westgate Street, completed in 1844. The branch’s business continued to grow rapidly throughout the nineteenth century, and in 1890 it relocated again to more spacious newly-constructed premises at 21 Eastgate Street. Gloucester continued to prosper in the early twentieth century, and by 1904 electric trams had replaced their horse-drawn predecessors. The First World War brought staff shortages and controls on lending. Three members of the bank’s Gloucester branch staff lost their lives on active service. In 1918 National Provincial Bank of England merged with Union of London & Smiths Bank to form one of the emerging ‘big five’ high street , later known as National Provincial Bank.

With three stores, attic and cellar. It counts with a symmetrical front; on the ground floor an Ionic colonnade of four wide bays with three-quarter columns applied to narrow piers between rusticated piers at each end, all with molded bases on granite plinths and a crowning entablature; the doorway to the banking hall in the right-hand bay and a large plain glazed C20 window in each bay. The upper floors are recessed between piers at either end to provide a balcony with a wrought-iron balustrade above the ground floor colonnade; on the first floor a large central, canted bay with Ionic pilasters applied to the angles, two French windows to the front of the bay, single French windows to the canted sides and to the single bays at either end; above in the centre a pediment, with a wreath enclosing the initials "NB" in the tympanum; the central attic dormer, flanked by volutes, has two sashes framed by pilasters supporting a segmental pediment with a carved shell in the tympanum.

The scope of works will be on the ground floor and first floor (partially).The proposal deals with the interior of the property basically with the removal of fitted furniture elements, the uplifting of carpets, the making good of walls and the installation of some stud partition walls as shown on the drawings provided.

Use

The existing structure is currently used as a bank open to the public between 09.00 and 17.00 Monday to Friday, 09.00 and 15.00 on Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Layout and Scale

The interior of the building will be upgraded to meet the needs of modern banking. The existing cashiers will be removed to increase the size of the customer facing areas and to create a more open and inviting banking hall.

Externally the proposal is to add a chevron and a light pocket as window merchandising. The existing fascia and projecting sign will be replaced to meet NatWest’s new branding standards .In addition, the removal of one of the night safes and its replacement by the existing ATM. The current location of the ATM will be replaced with stone to match existing.

Appearance

The interior of the branch is modern throughout except for the perimeter walls and the ceiling. Part of the existing stud partitions within the banking hall will be removed and new partitions will be built to provide security to sensitive areas of the branch.

The development will be handled in line with NatWest’s Brand refresh scheme enhancing the character of buildings with special interest, respecting the heritage of both the building and the surrounding area. The external appearance of the building will remain unaffected by the development other than the addition of a chevron the light pocket and the machine’s swap.

Environmental Sustainability

All appropriate installations will comply with part L.