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Allied Irish Bank
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Architect:
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William
G. Murray (1822-71), |
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Date: |
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c.1855 |
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Location: |
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Custume
Place |
This
very fine Italianate building is one of the best examples
of its type in Ireland. It retains its original form,
as well as its original fabric. This structure was originally
built as The Provincial Bank and was designed by William
G. Murray (1822-71), an eminent architect of his time.
The construction of the bank attests to high quality stone
masonry, particularly in the reserved cut-stone detailing,
which contributes significantly to the architectural design
quality of the composition.
It is built in a very prominent site close to Shannon
Bridge in what was the marketplace of Athlone from c.1500
until 1837, when the Market House/Thosel was demolished.
Therefore, it is fitting that the design should echo the
design of a traditional Georgian market house. It differs
from most commercial buildings in Athlone in that it is
freestanding and approached across a bridge from the pavement.
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Shallow hipped natural slate roof with overhanging eaves and
modillioned cornice with guilloche decoration to frieze. Ashlar
chimneystacks with cornices and clay chimney pots. Constructed
of ashlar limestone, channelled on ground floor, with an ashlar
string course at first floor sill level and projecting ashlar
quoins to corners. Rock-faced limestone to basement. Round-headed
openings in recessed arches to ground floor, square-headed openings
with cut-stone architraves above. Central bay to first floor
has cut-stone entablature.
Athlone Architectural Heritage Group would like
to acknowledge the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
(NIAH) for their kind permission to use content from their website.
See: www.buildingsofireland.ie.
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