This building begs to be noticed. The astonishingly opulent façade was modelled on that of the sumptuous Sansovino Library in Venice. Two tiers of arcades are decorated with a mass of sculpture. It was the brain-child of Bristol architect William Bruce Gingell, while the figurework - full of allegory - was by sculptor John Thomas, who worked on the Houses of Parliament. It was opened in 1856 as the West of England and South Wales Bank and has remained a bank throughout its history.
