Entrance to the Bank of Scotland (now HBOS), Edinburgh, greatly altered by David Bryce, 1803-1876

[Victorian Web Home —> Architecture —> Edinburgh —> David Bryce —> Next]

Entrance to the Bank of Scotland (now HBOS)

Greatly altered by David Bryce, 1803-1876

1864-1871

Bank Street, the Mound, Edinburgh

Variously described as "Roman-Baroque" (Gifford et al. 219) and "Franco-Italian" (Glendinning and MacKenechie 162), this building stands on the northern edge of Edinburgh's old town, overlooking Princes Street and greatly contributing to the cityscape there. It acquired its dramatic profile when David Bryce partially encased the older building by Read & Crichton.

Other Views

View from Princes Street

Close-up of dome

Buildings overlooking Princes Street Gardens, with the bank on the far right.

Photograph, caption, and commentary by Jacqueline Banerjee, 2009/10.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL.]

He retained the central part of their front elevation on the south, but transformed it in other ways, adding the dome on its "tall octagonal drum with lozenge-shaped windows and topped by a lantern," and also its parapet. The latter is "adorned with vigorous sculpture with which the dome forms a composition equally effective from any viewpoint" (Gifford et al. 219). Bryce also extended the older building by adding columns, pilasters and towers so that it "almost constitutes an artificial hill with its piling-up of rustication, columns and domes" (Glendinning and MacKenechie 162). This building with its towering presence on the Mound, and its memorable silhouette, has recently been restored and modernised inside.

References

Gifford, John, et. al. Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland series). London: Penguin, rev. ed. 1991.

Glendinning, Miles and Aonghus MacKechnie. Scottish Architecture. London: Thames & Hudson, 2004.

Last modified 5 January 2010