11-03-50 Keighley

Keighley is one of the larger branches in the Craven District, and has been in charge at one time or other of SEVEN sub branches. Between the time of the amalgamation of the Craven Bank with the Bank of Liverpool in 1906, and the creation of the modern-day Martins Bank Limited in 1928, branches exist at Cross Hills, Denholme, Haworth, Oakworth, Oxenhope and Steeton, all of which you can visit by choosing from the sub branch menu further down this page. We are indebted to Julian Taylor a member of Martins Staff and a good friend of the Archive, for some of the images of Keighley branch on this page.

In Service from 1840 until 9 August 2024

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/1453

The image here (right) shows Keighley North Street, including local shops, Martins Bank, and the Police Station, circa 1963. Further down this page, you will see the building in TWO guises – as a branch of the Craven Bank, and of Martins Bank. For our Keighley features, we learn of the photographic prowess of staff member Jean Race, and the election to the office of Mayor, of George Dale, who also works at Keighley… Branch Image (right): Martins Bank Archive Collections – © Julian Taylor *In the Picture* Jean Race of Keighley Branch was introduced to a postal photography club by a fellow photographer about four years ago, electing to join the general colour and natural history circles which have about sixteen members each. She sends her slides to the circle secretary who puts them in the appropriate box, with details of weather conditions, time of day, type of film, aperture and stop, and anything else of interest. The boxes of slides circulate once a month, together with a notebook for each member to write as much as possible, raising points or asking questions which the others may discuss on receiving the box. She withdraws her slide and inserts another when the box is returned with everyone’s comments.
			In this way she gets to know everybody well and the hints and suggestions put forward in the notebook prove helpful and interesting since few photographers hold identical views on every subject. Arguments, disagreements with club policy, adverse comments—sometimes strong criticism—all are taken in good part and a very friendly spirit prevails.The natural history circle has a mixed membership including a jeweller, farmer, housewife, secretary, doctor, radiologist, lecturer and a retired business man. The farmer from Cheshire writes interesting notes on wild life and submits excellent slides of birds and small animals. The housewife has a wonderful collection of wild flowers: the doctor specializes in close-ups of insects and often includes pictures of wasps, beetles, caterpillars and moths blown up to more than life size. Once a year there is a general meeting and nature rambles are arranged in the spring, when it is amusing to see photographers crawling along stalking butterflies, seeking a rare wild flower, or even squelching in bog to take close-ups of grasses and ferns.
*Jean pays* £1 a year subscription and says that anyone owning a 35mm camera is eligible for membership. There is no minimum standard but members should be able to produce a black and white enlargement, mount their colour slides between glass, and ‘spot’ correctly. As the boxes can be dealt with at home any person lacking time or inclination to join a local camera club can still pursue their hobby. sp1 It’s not often we get the chance to feature a member of Martins Bank’s Branch Banking Staff who not only loyally serves the Bank, but who also holds public office. George W Dale is Chief Cashier at Keighley by day, and Mayor of keighley at all other times! His rise to fame is recalled by our good friend Julian Taylor, who also took the photograph of George from the Mayoral “Hall of Fame” in the Council Chamber of Keighley Town Hall…			Image: Martins Bank Archive Collections – © Julian Taylor
*Seal of Office* *George* W. Dale was Chief Cashier at Keighley Branch during the 1950’s & 1960’s. *In his younger days he had been a very effective wicketkeeper (his words!), in league cricket.* Be that as it may, it was always used as the reason for his creaking back & knees which meant he could only supervise the humping of cash bags – a task for which he enthusiastically employed we juniors. *In those days Tuesday was the day that surplus or old bank notes were despatched to Head Office in Liverpool. This was done by post by way of HVPs (High Value Packets)* *Each packet contained £5000. Carefully parcelled & sealed with wax by the Chief Cashier.* *George would depart on foot to the Post Office, with one parcel under each arm, accompanied by a junior male clerk.* *The duo would leave the branch on the dot at 11.50 am to ensure the parcels could be deposited with the Post Office in time for him to catch his bus home for lunch.* *Most of the town were aware of this routine but no attack was ever threatened.* *George Dale stood in the Keighley Borough Council elections in 1958 for the Riddlesden Ward as a Conservative.* *During canvassing, posters surreptisciosly appeared on the staff notice board “VOTE for DALE for CHEAPER ALE” (He did enjoy a pint)* *He was successful and served for some 5 years as a Councillor before being elected Mayor of Keighley in 1963.* *Reports and pictures of his Mayor making ceremony covered most of the front page of the weekly broadsheet* *The Keighley News, and* *the report of his acceptance speech* *included the following tribute to his employers Martins Bank:-* Newspaper Image © The Keighley News and successors 1963
	*This Bank belongs to…*
Our “then and now” features normally feature just two photographs, comparing old with new and that’s it. Just occasionally, as throughout this page, we are lucky to be able to compare several images of a Branch. Here, we see that sometimes, not even carving your name in stone will guarantee your future. At Keighley Branch, the rare images below show the name of the Craven Bank in the elaborate stonework at the top of the building. Wind forward through a merger or two and the words “Martins Bank” have replaced the original carvings. A few more decades go by, and it becomes Barclays’ turn to run the place, although they don’t go so far as to carve their name with pride, perhaps learning from their predecessors that nothing lasts forever. To to bring things up to date, we have the superb contemporary colour photograph of 77 North Street, still a bank, and still open for now. Thanks as usual to Dave Baldwin and also to his long suffering wife, who has endured many of his photographic expeditions on our behalf! Dave’s attention to detail is invaluable, as he always tries to capture the modern view from the same aspect as the original…		Image: Martins Bank Archive Collections – © Julian Taylor
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1453		Image: Martins Bank Archive Collections – © Dave Baldwin

	BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED		LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

	MARTINS BANK LIMITED		MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

	NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK		YORKSHIRE BANK LIMITED



*Mr A Dewhirst* *Joined the Bank Here* *1915*	*Mr A S Tillotson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1921*	*Mr N Milner* *On the Staff* *1926 to 1933*	*Mr G M Petty* *On the Staff* *1932 to 1946*	*Mr A W Hindle* *Manager* *1937 to 1949*	*Mr Frank Wade* *On the Staff 1939-1940* *and 1953 to 1960*



*Mr W A Hopewell* *On the Staff* *1940 to 1941*	*Mr I A Douglas* *On the Staff* *1941 to 1943*	*Mr E Shackleton* *On the Staff* *1945 to 1948*	*Mr D G Brodgen* *Joined the Bank Here* *1947 to 1949*	*Mr H R Suttle* *Manager* *1949 to 1953*	*Mr D L Naylor* *Assistant Manager* *1949 to 1958*



*Mr Eric G Earnshaw* *Manager* *1953 to 1959*	*Mr D Julian Taylor* *On the Staff* *1956 to 1961*	*Mr Johnnie F Bauer* *Assistant manager* *1958 to 1960*	*Mr E C Ellison LD* *Manager* *1959 to 1966*	*Mr H D Clough* *Assistant Manager* *1960 to 1963*	*Mr R F Hopwood* *Pro then Assistant* *Manager 1960 to 1965*



*Mr D J Fryer* *On the Staff* *1960*	*George W Dale* *Chiref Cashier* *1963*	*Miss B M Farey* *On the Staff* *1965*	*Mr D Ingham* *Assistant Manager* *1965 to 1968*	*David Baldwin* *Joined the Bank Here* *1966*	*Miss Jean Plume* *Cashier* *1966*



*Mr A W Denton* *Manager* *1966 onwards*	*Elizabeth Atkins* *Staff and Miss Youth Club of 1966*	*Susan Robertshaw* *On the Staff* *1967*	*Mr K Marsden* *Assistant Manager* *1968*	*David O Baxter* *On the Staff* *1969*