Modern commercial building.


The earliest elements of this structure preserve remains of a 16th century tower forming part of the outer defences of Castle Rushen (see PRN 0080.61). The property is currently in use as a bank (Barclays Bank).


The structure is protected under the terms of the Town and Country Planning Act 1999. It was placed on the protected buildings register on the 3rd February 1984, and is Registered Building No 30.


The following is quoted from the documentation accompanying the registration inscription:


The two storey building is of stone with a curved front wall following the street line and amending its otherwise rectangular plan form. The facade treatment applied to the two visible elevations (being an end terrace) is best described as strange. The semi-circular headed openings of the ground floor windows and door produce a very squat proportion. The lower portion of the window and below the sill has exposed stonework (cut regular blocks), the arch itself has exposed brick (with no keystones) and the surround to the arch being roughcast outside a thin cement rendered moulding. The windows of the second floor are rectangular of more slender proportion located above their counterparts on the floor below but this level is marked by parallel string courses (below sill and above head) which give a horizontal direction vying with the vertical elements of this floor and the neutral elements at street level. Seemingly adopting a defensive attitude the parapet is sculpted into battlements which pay lip service to the adjacent castle. No interior inspection was made. There is no doubt that the building enjoys a prominent location of civic importance. Moreover as the old Custom House and Market Hall there are clear historic overtones to the building itself. It is not known however whether the original building suffered from such a paucity of architectural resolution. At the risk of seeming biased it is felt that the building represents as strong a statement of indecision as is unfortunately possible on so distinguished a site.