Abtech House

The building on the east side of Park Row, Leeds was built as offices for the West Riding Union Bank.

Between the ground and first floors is a deep relief stone frieze designed by architect Joseph Thewlis, with has a central seated figure of Minerva as the goddess of commerce holding a globe and a caduceus, flanked by rectangular panels depicting scenes of colonial trading to either side.

Further relief carvings above each entrances show, to the left, the coat of arms of Leeds (fleece with three stars in chief) supported by two women and, to the right, the coat of arms of Huddersfield (chevron with three towers, between three sheep) supported by two men.

Either side of the four windows on the first floor are panels with five further carved municipal coats of arms: Liverpool (liver bird), Dewsbury (owls and cross in chief), Manchester (sailing ship in chief), Bury (quarters with anvil, fleece, shuttles, papyrus), and Preston (lamb of god).

Towards the end of the 20th century, it was offices for the Blue Arrow employment agency, and the ground floor is now the Thewlis cocktail lounge, with a dental practice in the basement.