Former Bank, The Esplanade and Bond Street, Weymouth

WEYMOUTH - The new banking premises for Stuckey’s Banking Company, on the Parade, at its junction with Bond-street, have now been completed. The style adopted by the architects is French Renaissance of the Burgundian type, the elevations being of red brick and Portland stone, while the roof is covered with green elates. Internally, the only apartment admitting of special treatment to harmonise with the exterior is the banking-room. The entrance to it (from Bond-street) is through a handsome semi-circular headed doorway, the principal feature in the whole of the stonework. Pitch pine is the material used for all the woodwork in the banking-room, except the counter and desk tops, which are of mahogany. Connected with the public room is the bank parlour, which also communicates with the manager’s residence. Upstairs the oriel windows facing Bond-street and carried upon stone corbels, give large additions to the drawing-room and three bedrooms, besides a sea view to each. The architects are Messrs. Pauli & Bonella, of Chancery-lane, London; the builder being Mr. Albert Clarke, of Weymouth. [Builder 20 September 1884 page 408]

By 1945 the bank had become a branch of Westminster Bank which closed following the amalgamation of the Westminster and National Provincial Banks in 1970. Acquired by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council the ground floor and basement were converted into public toilets. These proved increasingly costly to maintain and were closed in 2016. The building was sold and is currently empty awaiting refurbishment.

Reference        Builder 20 September 1884 page 408
Reference        Dorset Echo 1 August 2019