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Martins Bank 1928+

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Slowly but surely, Martins Bank moves down the East Coast towards East Anglia, the final destination of the southern expansion which started back in the early 1930s, but more importantly, and perhaps frighteningly, the heartland of the Bank’s main rival – Barclays.  East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire each receives a scattering of branches, and in Norfolk, King’s Lynn is added, with three further branches open in Norwich. Time is however running out, and hopes of Martins Bank being able to complete a fully National network of branches are dashed by the merger with Barclays. 

In Service: 1959 to 21 July 1972 then reopened 1974 until 10 May 2024

Image © Barclays ref 0030-2752

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Many of the Eastern and South Eastern branches that are added in the 1950s and 60s are not needed by Barclays, and are closed at the time of the merger or just after. Spalding fares better, and is still open today, although it was originally closed for some eighteen months in the early 1970s.  Shortly after the branch first opened for business, Martins Bank Magazine went to meet the staff and take a look at the teak panelling and latest ceiling lighting techniques – the kind of fixtures and fittings over which the writers of the Magazine writers were to regularly salivate, as Martins poured more and more money into its Branch network…

 

1960 02 MBM.jpgThe right time to visit Spalding is really towards the end of April or the beginning of May when the fields are a blaze of colour. That is the time when the flower processions are held and cars converge from miles around to see this spectacle of colour which rivals the fields of Holland itself. We were not able so to time our visit, and had to be content with seeing acres of golden daffo­dils under a rain-washed sky. We made our visit to the new branch on the last day of March and it rained pitilessly from the time of our arrival until after our depart­ure. It takes more than a drop of water to deter us, however, as they well know in these parts.

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Last time we were here, to visit our new branch at Lincoln, Mr. Wilmot drove us through what seemed to be a river in flood, and we survived that, so Spalding held no terrors for us As a matter of fact, the visit was the occasion for a very happy reunion. Mr. C. M. Tenneson, Manager of the new branch, was second in command at Lincoln at the time of our visit, and we first met Mrs. Tenneson on that occasion. It was a great pleasure to spend a happy evening with them both. Mr. Tenneson commenced his career in the Liverpool District and after serving there for eleven years went to the Manchester District, where he served at various branches before his translation to the Midland District.  Mr. D. B. Woolgar, second to Mr. Tenneson, is also known to us. He has spent all his time up to now in the London District, at Sidcup, Chislehurst and elsewhere, but has accepted this opportunity with alacrity and enthusiasm as a means of widening his experience and of enabling him to fit himself for further responsibility. His wife and family have settled down quite happily in this very different part of the world.

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Mr. David Simpson, who travels about sixteen miles from Boston each day, is doing what he wants to do. He was determined to get into a bank and not being able to find an opening in Boston itself he joined Martins Bank as soon as the branch was opened. He is very keen and conscientious and it is nice to meet someone so happy in his job.  Miss Joy Chenery, who represents the female staff, was secretary to a farmer for several years, but with a brother in a bank and with the desire to meet the public she decided to exchange farm book-keeping for bank book-keeping. She had the opportunity of spending a week at Head Office in connection with work on the Rights Issue, but prefers to work permanently on her native heath. On seeing Spalding under the worst possible conditions, in pouring rain at the close of market day after everyone had gone away, our first thought was one of mild speculation as to why we had decided to open there before Boston and Peterborough, but the place is, after all, the capital and centre of bulbland. It is a rich town and we do need to extend our representation further in this part of the world.

1960 Spalding Interior BGA No Ref.jpgThe branch itself is one of the most attractive of our new branches. Panelled in teak with the latest ceiling lighting to set it off, the interior has a sunshiny, welcoming effect. The office and the counter space are of ample proportions and the whole effect is one of dignified modernity, exactly the right contrast being provided by the very modern wallpaper which faces the door and catches the eye of the customer on entering the Bank. The office is all on one level and the Manager's room, waiting room and staff rooms are most attractively decorated and furnished. Premises Department have done one of their best jobs here, and the complete lack of ostentation, so often associated with buildings of modern design, is not the least attractive feature of the place. We toured the area around the town to get some idea of the layout and were much impressed by the well cared for appearance of the farm buildings everywhere. The straight rivers, not unlike canals, the marshlands, the lines of poplars planted as wind breaks, the ubiquity of the weeping willow tree and the fields of tulips already showing promise of the glory to come, provided a unique and unforgettable picture of this very distinctive corner of England with that fertile two-crop silt, which is the foundation of its prosperity as one of the most valuable of the market gardens of England. Just before we left we were glad to be able to pay a quick visit to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Tenneson. It is charmingly situated with a lovely view of trees and gardens at the rear. Mrs. Tenneson is as proud of the Bank and of her husband's branch as he is himself and its progress is, in every sense of the word, a family matter.

1959 to 1962 Mr D B Woolgar Branch Second MBM-Su67P04.jpg

1959 to 1966 Mr CM Tenneson Manager MBM-Wi66P03.jpg

1960 Mr D Simpson MBM-Su60P40.jpg

1966 Mr J Bridgwood Manager MBM-Wi66P05.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr D B Woolgar

Branch Second

1959 to 1962

Mr C M Tenneson

Manager

1959 to 1966

Miss J Chenery

On the Staff

1960

Mr D Simpson

On the Staff

1960

Mr K W Edwards

On the Staff

1962 to 1967

Mr J Bridgwood

Manager

1966 onwards

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

 

 

MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK

 

 

Title:

Type:

Address:

Index Number and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

11-12-80 Spalding

Full Branch

10 Hall Place Spalding Lincolnshire

598 Midland

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

Spalding 3213

Nightsafe

Mr J Bridgwood Manager

 

Sowerby Bridge 21 Town Hall St

1959

15 December 1969

21 July 1972

December 1974

10 May 2024

Opened by Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-80-77 Spalding 10 Hall Place

Closed

Re-opened by Barclays

Closed Permanently from 12 Noon

Spennymoor

 

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