Downham Market..Former Banking Hall/Coggles
Coggles, 13 Bridge Street, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9DW
In 1857 the joint tenancy of Number 15 Bridge St. (Bank House) and the brewery at the end of the garden in Priory Road was conferred on to the directors of the Norwich-based Gurney's Bank. Gurney's was absorbed by Barclay's Bank in 1896 and alterations to the bank premises began at around the same time, although Bank House was still the Manager's residence. The brewery was sold to Harry Wayman in 1902.
In 1898 part of the Cattle Market had been purchased to enlarge the bank, and in 1906, further expansion was carried out, doubling its size with a fine entrance porch, since demolished. The office end was added in the 1950s by S. Staines & Son of Stow Bardolph and built of very soft bricks that were made in a brickyard in Stow. They had to get the brickmaker out of retirement to bake them as modern bricks do not match.
Barclay's sold Number 15 - Bank House - to a private individual in 1967.
Note: A German field gun, a trophy of the Great War, was delivered in December 1919 and installed on the lawn adjacent to the bank until 1940 when it was taken away during a salvage drive.
When the branch closed in 2019 it was taken over and adapted for use by the funeral directors, Coggles. The building still retains its fine ceilings.
Timings & Tours
- Sunday 21 September:
- 10.00 - 4pm
Location & directions
Coggles, 13 Bridge Street, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 9DW
- Directions:
- Adjacent to the Market Square
- Contact on day:
- Christine Austin
- Telephone number:
- +441366384428
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Additional information
The building is now occupied by Coggles, Funeral Directors
