Heritage experts at East Cambridgeshire District Council have been working with Historic England to help ensure the former Lloyd’s Bank in Littleport has been granted Grade II listed status.

The bank, which is now divided into flats, was built in 1931 on Main Street. It has been described as “an extremely rare example of a purpose-built commercial bank built in the vernacular style, complete with a thatched roof.”

It has been listed by the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of Historic England.

Historic England said the building, which was purpose built as a bank, featured a banking hall and manager's office, together with private living accommodation for the bank manager and their family.

A spokesperson for East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: "We place strong values on the heritage of East Cambridgeshire and working closely with Historic England it has been fantastic to see this valuable piece of heritage has finally been nationally recognised and protected.

“The former Lloyds Bank in Littleport, together with the still operating branch in Ely, are part of a series of Lloyds banks across East Anglia designed in the 1920s and 1930s by the Ipswich architect Henry Munro Cautley. 

“Although in various styles, all are of the highest architectural quality and the majority are already listed. 

“The Littleport building is an important part of this wider group and is the only thatched example. 

“It was initially recognised by inclusion on the East Cambridgeshire local list in 2017 but further research during the current Cambridgeshire Local Heritage List Project highlighted its regional importance, and we submitted it to Historic England for inclusion in the national heritage list.”

You can read more about the listing on the BBC's website.

Photo sourced from Historic England.