Wolverhampton's Architectural Heritage

Places of Work

Banking

Banking has always played a important part in the history of Wolverhampton. A number of banks also have prominent locations in the city. Indeed, Queen Square could be called the Square of Banks! Lloyds-TSB, National Westminster, HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, and Abbey National & Halifax Banks, together with a number of building societies, all have branches in Queen Square.

Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank is situated at the eastern end of Queen Square at the junction of Dudley Street.

Lloyds Bank Queen Square 1986 (L7/LLOY/E/6)

Built in 1879, the building was designed by the architect JA Chatwin and occupies the former site of the Swan Inn - the location where John Wesley preached 1761.

Swan Hotel, Queen Square (site of Lloyds Bank) c. 1870 (C3/QUE/5/8)

In 1981 a modern four-storey extension to the bank was built next door on the site of the old Queens Cinema and Ballroom.

Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank is situated at the eastern end of Queen Square at the junction of Lichfield Street and Lich Gates.

Barclays Bank, Queen Square c. 1900 (L7/BAR/E/2)

Barclays Bank was built in 1876, and designed by Thomas Henry Flemming in a Gothic style, complete with an oriel window.

Barclays Bank, Queen Square 1991 (C3/QUE/7/35)

The National Westminster Bank is situated on the northern side of Queen Square at the junction of Exchange Street.

The bank gives the impression of being an imposing 19th century structure built in a classical style complete with the inscription "Established 1833". In fact the building was not built until the turn of the 20th century!