11-18-00 Altrincham

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A nineteenth Century Barcode?

The imposing building at 9/11 Railway Street Altrincham, comes to Martins Bank through the merger in 1928 of the Lancashire and Yorkshire bank and the Bank of Liverpool and Martins. This is one of only a few branches to display its own date of birth – 1883 - in Roman numerals, the original “bar code” if you like!

In 1922 the branch is known as “Altrincham and Bowdon” under the management of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank’s Mr A H M Gow. Altrincham (pronounced “Altringham” as if you have shortened the words “altering them”) along with its neighbours at Broadheath, Hale, Timperley, Sale and Sale Moor receives little or no mention in Martins Bank Magazine.

This part of Cheshire is largely swallowed up by the sprawl of “Greater Manchester” from the late 1960s onwards, and we therefore need more information and your memories of working at or using these branches. If you can help, please get in touch with us at the usual address:

martinsbankarchive@btinternet.com

In service: 1883 – 25 November 2011

1922 Altrincham Branch Exterior as L & Y Bank.jpg

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0039

It was with huge sadness that we learned of the demise of Altrincham branch in November 2011. Whilst Barclays did not move out of Altrincham altogether, they relocated from this magnificent building to somewhere “a little more up to date”. For me personally, another piece of childhood has been lost.

Editor, EASTER 2011

We are indebted to the Grasshopper Pensioners’ Club for spotting and facilitating the display, and to our friends at Francis Frith – www.francisfrith.com - for the wonderfully atmospheric image (below, left) of Altrincham Branch as it looked in 1907, when it belonged to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. The middle image is from our own collection, and features the Branch in 1922, and with Barclays’ 1940s image on the right, we can see how relatively unchanged this lovely building was through the passing of the years…

Image © The Francis Frith Collection – Ref 58605

Under licence to Martins Bank Archive Collections

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections –

W N Townson Bequest

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0039

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED The Downs	DISTRICT BANK LIMITED 23 Stamford New Road Bowdon 32-34 Railway Street	LLOYDS BANK LIMITED Altrincham Railway Street

MARTINS BANK LIMITED 9/11 Railway Street Broadheath	MIDLAND BANK LIMITED Altrincham	NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK Altrincham

WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED Altrincham The Downs	WILLIAMS DEACON’S BANK Altrincham Broadheath



Mr W L A Wilkinson Joined the Bank here 1908	Mr J F Tegg Joined the Bank here 1922	Mr P W Cooper Joined the Bank Here 1929 to 1952	Mr E Brown Pro Manager 1935 to 1939	Mr J H Harrop Manager 1935 to 1949	Mr R N Rowlands Pro Manager 1938 to 1948



Mr A N Barratt Joined the Bank here 1939 to 1939	Mr W E Taylor Pro Manager 1943 to 1946	Mr R E Saunders Joined the Bank here 1946 to 1951	Mr G Reynolds On the Staff 1948 to 1949	Mr W T Hughston On the Staff 1948 to 1952	Mr R P Hargreaves Signing Authority 1951 to 1958



Mr F Henshall Manager 1952 to 1956	Mr R B Estill Limited Authority 1956 to 1961	Mr J Pendelbury Pro Manager 1963 to 1967	Mr E K Bentley Pro Manager 1967	Mr P M Richardson Pro Manager 1968