Goldie87
15-03-2010, 10:03 PM
This fine grade 2 listed building was built 1900-1902. By S. Perkin Pick, principal architect of Everard & Pick of Leicester, for Pares' Bank. Sculpture was by CJ Allen, and plasterwork by GP Bankart. It had an extension dating from 1950 to the rear, but this was demolished around 2007. It was during later years a natwest, however they moved out many years ago now. Sometime later builders moved in, and the place was briefly in the news when one of the workers got trapped in the vault. After stripping some areas of the bank the company went bust, and the place has stood pretty much untouched since. I was very surprised how huge the place was,with endless rooms, stairways, corridors, and basements. A real shame a load of it had been stripped, but a great explore anyway :)
My pics are not great as Ive still got my crappy broken camera, im sure MD will post some better ones though.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0842.jpg
Exterior
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0850.jpg
Main banking hall today
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/stmartinsnatwest.jpg
Taken from EH website, main banking hall before the builders moved in
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0852.jpg
Managers office
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0910.jpg
Nice window
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0860.jpg
A small section of the vaults, the various doors lay in a heap on the right
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0866.jpg
Corridor in upstairs offices
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0864.jpg
Office, note thickness of floor!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0865.jpg
All of the offices had nice ceilings, which had been covered over in the past
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0881.jpg
Rainwater hopper
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0892.jpg
Roof
My pics are not great as Ive still got my crappy broken camera, im sure MD will post some better ones though.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0842.jpg
Exterior
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0850.jpg
Main banking hall today
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/stmartinsnatwest.jpg
Taken from EH website, main banking hall before the builders moved in
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0852.jpg
Managers office
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0910.jpg
Nice window
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0860.jpg
A small section of the vaults, the various doors lay in a heap on the right
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0866.jpg
Corridor in upstairs offices
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0864.jpg
Office, note thickness of floor!
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0865.jpg
All of the offices had nice ceilings, which had been covered over in the past
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0881.jpg
Rainwater hopper
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g16/rt06/Natwest/DSC_0892.jpg
Roof