Lloyds Bank, 1-2 High West Street, Cornhill fa?ade, Dorchester

Image: © Jo and Steve Turner Taken: 23 Aug 2021

Grade II Listed bank. The first part of the bank, symmetrical on the High W. St. door, was completed mid 1835 for Williams & Co. bank. At this time it had three windows in the centre with a door at each side. In 1897 Williams was taken over by Wilts & Dorset Banking Company. Stephen Biggs established a soup and refreshment room on the corner of Cornhill and High W. St. that subsequently became Howe's bakers, pastry-chefs and cook. Howe's built new premises, by local architect Mr J Feacey, next door in the Cornhill, that now has the Lloyds cash machines as seen in the photo, sometime before late 1902. The ground floor below the faded Lloyds Bank name was, when built, taken up with a shop front. The extension of the bank (by a London architect) was completed, on what had been Howe's corner shop, in November 1902. Presumably during the time of extension the High W. St. door was moved to its current location. When built, a private access door to the offices was provided next to the Howe's building that is now a window. Wilts & Dorset was taken over by Lloyds in 1914 (Lloyds largest take over to that date) and the old bank name above the first floor windows was removed but the 'W&D' carving over the corner door remains.

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0