Sites and Monument Record: Royal Bank, High Street, 1-9 Kirk Wynd, 27-29 Manor Street (SMR 436)
Description
Free Edwardian manner, 4-storey and attic red ashlar with corbelled circled angles having broad eaved ogee roofs; bow windows built out to bays at upper floors, curvilinear pedimented panel, richly sculptured.
On the Kirk Wynd side of the building at third floor level is a sculptured scene with relief carving set in a sunken rectangular panel. The panel is made up of five rows of ashlar with alternate rows of one and three blocks. It sits between fluted pilasters with a moulded bracket below and above, topped by a deep ogival dormer. The scene depicts Commerce, robed and crowned with a foliate wreath. sitting on a podium facing the front, her left hand resting in a shield carrying the lion rampant of Scotland and her right arm on a T-square. In the background are a sailing ship and a tree. A plough and an upturned cornucopia occur to her right and barrels and bales on the left. Below are thistles. Above, in a ribbon, is the Latin “DITAT SERVATA FIDES” meaning Faith preserved enriches - the motto of the Commercial Bank.
The entrance pend from the Kirk Wynd ascends a steep narrow flight of stone steps. There are original glazed wall tiles on the first floor landing which was occupied by offices. These form a dado to just above waist height consisting of plain white tiles interspersed with three narrow bands of dark green, all set under a decorated row carrying yellow geometric motifs and capped by a roll-moulded green band. From the first floor upwards the dado is defined by a round groove set in the cement/plaster render. The scale and platt staircase whose stone treads are supported on a steel frame. The banister and newels are of a dark wood in a simple art Nouveau style. A piended skylight allows natural light to flood in.
The roof has flat landings to the rear of the property, fronted by communal washrooms containing deep ceramic sinks and corner boilers or coppers. Pulleys fixed to the ceiling for drying racks.
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