Keynsham opens for business on 22 April 1965, adding another branch to the South Western portfolio of Martins Bank. Most of the Bank’s 1960s expansion takes place in the South West of England, and this includes the opening of larger premises for the South Western District Office, which outgrows itself in only a small number of years. It is unusual for branches of Martins Bank that were opened in traditional Barclays “heartlands” to have been chosen to remain open after the merger of the two banks in 1969. It is even rarer for one of them to be still open for business today. Keynsham is fortunate enough to have been be in the right place to attract custom, both then AND now. Martins’ Branches at Keynsham and Poole open within a short time of each other, and the article below is taken from a feature in Martins Bank Magazine, that trumpets the arrival of both new Branches, comparing them to a game of “Happy Families”…			Image © Barclays Ref: 33/302
keynsham, lying mid-way between Bristol and Bath on the A4 to London, has been rattled out of its somnolence by 20th century transport. Its main street—a traffic bottleneck containing a mixture of old shops and inns, Woolworths, supermarkets and banks—is rarely quiet, though the church at the top of the hill on the road from Bristol preserves the peaceful dignity of an earlier age and reminds one that a Peter de Keynesham was Mayor of Bristol in 1244. Otherwise Keynsham strikes one as an oversized village and, though light industries have sprung up and there is, of course, Fry's factory at nearby Somervell, the area is mainly a rapidly expanding but attractive dormitory for the commuters of Bristol and Bath. Very soon a new road will by-pass Keynsham and shoppers will be able to shop in comparative peace; today they wait hopefully at pedestrian crossings for a gap in the traffic. Our new branch opened at 46 High Street on April 22nd and the newness was still wearing off when we called a week later. Only those who have had to cope can appreciate the nuisance value of minor premises problems involving such comparatively simple things as a letter box, a light fitting or a bumpy floor.
But very little remains to be done at Keynsham branch to bring it to the standard expected of new or modernised branches. The layout is simple but effective and the staff are effective and anything but simple. We note Mr R. S. King's wide experience since joining the Bank at Cocks Biddulph in 1929, and we share his pleasure that in an age of younger managers he has achieved in his fifties management of a new branch. With him is Mr A. B. Middleton whose comparatively short career in the Bristol area has covered relief work and a spell in District Office as general factotum - an experience which any young man would welcome. Three bright youngsters complete the staff - Mr P. A. Turtle who with Miss B. J. Hollingworth spent the previous six months at Bath branch, and Miss L. Williams who entered the service when the new branch opened.
It seems that not much has changed in the fifty years between these two images of Keynsham Branch which celebrated its milestone birthday on 22/04/2015…
Mr R S King Manager 1965 onwards	Miss L Williams Joined the Bank Here 22/04/1965	Mr A B Middleton Branch Second 1965				Miss B J Hollingworth On the Staff 1965		Mr P A Turtle On the staff 1965
Title: Type: Address: Index Number and District: Hours: Telephone: Services: Manager:					11-11-50 Keynsham Main Branch 46 High Street Keynsham Bristol BS18 1DX 195 South Western Mon to Fri 1000-1500 Saturday 0900-1130 Keynsham 3941 Nightsafe Installed Mr R S King Manager
22 April 1965 15 December 1969				opened by Martins Bank Limited Barclays Bank Limited 20-46-00 Keynsham
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