Old Nat West Bank, St Mary's Street.Cardiff

 

 

 

Described by Newman (1995) as a five bay Palazzo front designed in 1857 by Thomas Lysaght. Probably influenced by the English architect Charles Barry who helped revive interest in  Italianate architecture during the early Victorian period. Palazzo basically means like a palace or grand residence typically found in Venice. The quoins (cornerstones) and arches of the windows are heavily vermiculated.

 

 

 

 

 





 

Vermiculation refers to the wavy patterns on the quoins and arches that appear to be like worm casts. The key stones for these arches are taken by occupied by dramatic bearded heads.

 

 

Newman, J. 1995 The Buildings of Glamorgan Yale