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Messrs Wakefield Crewdson
– the Kendal Bank, opens a branch in Keswick in 1865, making this Branch
one of the oldest Branches inherited by Martins Bank still to be in service
in the twenty-first century.
Thankfully, these modest but magnificent premises in the Market Square
have changed little over the years, and today the branch, along with the
rest of Keswick’s Market Place still manages to exude the charm and
tranquility of earlier days.
Situated at the top
end of the Lake District, Keswick, unlike a number of other former
Wakefield Crewdson Branches in Cumberland and Westmorland, is a standalone
Branch, with no sub-Branches of its own to look after. The branch offers a full banking service
across a six day opening pattern.
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In Service: April 1865
until 21 April 2023
Image © Barclays Ref 0033-0298
For our Keswick feature,
we go back to September 1967, to find that Mr J B Wilson, Manager of
Keswick for the last nine years, completes forty-three years’ service and
is about to retire. As usual,
Martins Bank Magazine is there to record the event…
  on September 27 to mark his retirement
after almost 43 years' service Mr Wilson entertained present and past
colleagues at an informal gathering at Keswick branch. During the evening
Mr Lowis of the Keswick staff spoke appreciatively of Mr Wilson and
welcomed Mr Buchanan who presented a pair of binoculars on behalf of
subscribers.
These will provide Mr
Wilson with a great deal of pleasure in the Lakeland area which he knows so
well. A native of
Carlisle, he began his career at Appleby and had been able to enjoy the
Northern scene all his banking life, apart from his service with the Forces
during the war. He was appointed
Clerk-in-Charge at West End, Morecambe in 1953 and five years later became
Manager at Keswick. Miss Kathleen Robinson
presented a bouquet to Mrs Wilson, who had always been a helpful and
understanding partner in her husband's service to the Bank, and whose
presence contributed in no small measure to the success of the evening.
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