The striking buildings still stand out in the city centre Liverpool city centre boasts plenty of incredible and historic buildings, many which have been a familiar sight on our streets for generations. In a lot of cases, many started life being used for a very different purpose, but in recent years have transformed and undergone regeneration to become the likes of restaurants, hotels, large office spaces and more. At one point, Liverpool’s banking institutions shaped some of the city’s most famous streets and were housed in a number of striking buildings still standing in the city centre today.
Liverpool’s port expanded dramatically in the 18th and 19th centuries which brought huge amounts of trade, seeing large number of banks and building societies set up shop in what was once the financial centre of Liverpool, the ECHO previously reported. This weekend, the ECHO reported how Liverpool couple Laina and Michael Foott are transforming an 'iconic' bank building in Garston into new "contemporary-style" salon. For years, the former TSB Bank building on Speke Road has been a familiar sight in the town with many often arranging to meet under its bold blue clock.
It opened as a Liverpool Savings Bank branch in 1939. As work continues on the old bank, it inspired us to look back at some of the city's oldest buildings, formerly banks, and what they became. A number of the former branches have only recently closed, whereas others will only be remembered by older members of the community.
This list isn't intended to be comprehensive, we've featured a number of sites that were once home to banks in the city centre in particular. National Bank, James Street A relative newcomer compared to some in the area, the former National Bank building is one of the most ornate on James Street and was built in the 1920s. It has a strongly American-influenced design by T Arnold Ashworth and Sons and wouldn’t be out of place on a New York boulevard.
Its historical features including the original tiled floors and ornate high ceilings. For some time, the venue was used as the First National Bar. But in 2018, the site transformed into The Old Bank pub and bar.
At the time, a spokesman for The Old Bank, Tony McGee, told the Echo: "The long and rich history of the waterfront has been reflected in everything we put in place at The Old Bank. "We’re proud and excited to revive the former glory of a stunning listed interior within a smart new city venue. The design nods to the incredible heritage of Liverpool’s rich waterfront and commercial history.
" Castle Moat House, Fenwick Street Taking its name from Liverpool Castle which once stood on the site of Derby Square, where the Victoria Monument is now, this Corinthian inspired building is perhaps one of the more understated in the area due to its slim size. The Neoclassical building was initially the home of the North and South Wales Bank. It is built over where the castle moat is said to have once stood.
Liverpool Castle was knocked down in the 1720s and replaced by a church which is also now gone. The present Grade II listed building sits near James Street station. It was built between 1838 and 1840.
On the building, a black plaque states it was designed by Edward Corbett. 62 Castle Street Built in 1868 and originally home to the Alliance Bank, the Grade II listed structure has since been run as a branch of the North and South Wales Bank and also the Midland bank. After the Midland Bank had relocated to the northern end of the street, the building was converted by Liverpool businessman Wayne Rose into a bar, restaurant and a 4 star hotel, in 1986, the ECHO previously reported.
Known as Trials Hotel, due to its close proximity to the Queen Elizabeth Law Courts, the site opened its doors to upmarket guests after a £750,000 refurbishment. The building was bought by Centre Island Hotels in 2004 and refurbished into a boutique hotel. The bar and restaurant had previously been Room and What’s at 62.
It currently houses Neighbourhood bar and restaurant which is set within the former banking hall. 52 & 54 Castle Street and 48 & 50 Castle Street 52 & 54 Castle Street were once a branch of Scottish Provident. In 2018, the ECHO reported how a new £1m Liverpool Gin bar and distillery, Liverpool Gin Distillery, was to open on site.
48 & 50 Castle Street were built in 1864, home to the Mercantile and Exchange bank and were designed by James Picton, the architect of Liverpool’s central Library’s Picton reading room on William Brown Street. At 48 Castle Street, Co.Co.
Liverpool, a premier private hire venue, now calls the site home. 42 Castle Street Built in 1893, this building is one of the largest on Castle Street. It was previously known as Victoria Chambers.
Today, 42 Castle Street offers 17 one and two bedroom fully furnished luxury Serviced Apartments within the grade II listed building. It is located between the Sainsbury's branch and what was the bar Heritage. 5 Brunswick Street This is the first of two former banks of the tightly packed Brunswick Street.
First built in 1798, it is one of the oldest in the area and served as the former Heywood and Sons bank. The grade II-listed building was originally a private bank owned by merchant and slave ship owner Arthur Heywood. In later life it operated as a Barclays Bank and restaurant Noble House.
In 2016, the ECHO reported how the Alchemist Bar opened on site. For its launch, it welcomed stars from the world of sport and television, including boxer Paul Smith , former Everton players Ian Snodin, Graeme Stuart and Graham Sharp, and LFC legends John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish. Halifax House, Brunswick Street Across the road is the former headquarters of the Union Bank.
Halifax House was built in 1877. Although the Union Bank was established in 1835, the building on Brunswick Street was its first branch. Today the building has been converted into a range of serviced apartments.
Located in Halifax House, the Grade II heritage building is also home to The Restaurant Bar & Grill. 36 Castle Street Perhaps one of the most detailed buildings on Castle Street, number 36 was once a branch of the former Leyland and Bullins bank - which opened on the premises in 1895. Leyland and Bullins bank was partly founded by Thomas Leyland, three times elected as the Mayor of Liverpool.
As merchant and ship owner, he funded transatlantic slave voyages which built up a large portion of his wealth. The Leyland and Bullins Bank was taken over by North and South Wales Bank and later Midland Bank - which became HSBC. The building is currently home to the Viva Brazil restaurant.
Bank of England Building, Castle Street One of only three branches across the country, Liverpool’s Bank of England building at 31 Castle Street is the only Grade I listed structure in the area. It opened in the mid-19th century and serves as evidence of Liverpool’s financial importance at the time. In July, the ECHO reported how the long-unoccupied former Bank of England building on Castle Street is to be brought back to life as Troia Restaurants has secured planning permission to bring the high-end Ivy brand to the city.
The former bank building is now on course to be the Ivy’s third North West venue. The Castle Street bank building was famously occupied in 2015 by a group called Love Activists, who called for it to be used as a centre to support homeless people. Plans to convert the ground floor into a restaurant/bar use along with commercial kitchens were first submitted in 2022.
National Westminster and Parrs Bank One of the last remaining operational banks along Castle Street was at 32-34 Castle Street. Initially operating as the Parr Bank in the late 19th century, it went on to be acquired by National Westminster Bank. Natwest operated from the building until 2017 when it took up new premises closer to Liverpool’s commercial district.
The building’s centrepiece is a circular banking hall , which has retained its grand pillars, dome and gold ceiling detailing throughout the process of modernisation. Taylor Swift previously showed off the building in her music video, I Can See You, following the release of her re-recorded album, Speak Now. Taylor was spotted filming in the city at the start of April 2023 as she took a short break from the US-leg of The Eras Tour, the ECHO previously reported.
In July 2023, it was announced that Elif would be moving into the former NatWest unit. Last month, the restaurant opened their newest branch there. 27 Castle Street and 6&8 Castle Street Next door to the Bank of England is a similarly ornate structure that once housed law offices and a branch of the Yorkshire Building Society.
Further north along Castle Street is another Grade II listed building at 6&8 Castle Street. This was home to the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society. It now houses a number of commercial units on its ground floor.
4 Dale Street Fresh-faced and futuristic compared to the other buildings on this list, the former Midland bank on Dale Street still stands out as one of Liverpool’s most striking pieces of architecture. The bank previously operated in more classic settings on the corner of Castle Street but moved a few yards around the corner in the early 1970s. At one point, the site was the One Stop shop.
In 2015, the ECHO reported how the building had been given a Grade II listing as part of a project to recognise the importance of post-war office buildings. More recently the building was home to one of Gino D’Acampo’s restaurants. It has since been reopened as Riva Blu since 2022.
Martins Bank, Water Street Since closing in 2009, the former Martins Bank building on Water Street has lain empty. Built in the early 20th century, it’s more often used as a replica backdrop for New York City when film crews are on location in Liverpool. Its ground floor banking hall dwarfs those of the Bank of England and 22 Castle Street at 40,000sqft.
And it was used as inspiration for Gringotts in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Perhaps the most significant part of the building’s history is when the majority of Britain's gold reserves was moved to the bank's vault during the Second World War. Martins Bank was merged with Barclays Bank in 1969 and continued to operate up until 2009.
Once famed for holding Britain's gold reserves during the second world war, it is set to begin a new lease of life. The Grade II* listed building is set to reopen in 2024 and house 140,000 sq ft of offices, restaurant and social space located within the former banking hall..
