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During the last twenty
years of its independence, the North Eastern Banking Company opens a steady
number of new branches and sub branches across the North East of
England. This part of the country will
become Martins Bank’s largest district, and many branches opened in the late
1800s will still be trading more than a hundred years later.
Stanley is opened in
1895 at “Elite Buildings” in Front Street, which also appears to house a
large dance hall at the time of the branch photographs below. As a full branch of Martins in the 1960s,
Stanley opens six days a week and is taken over by Barclays in 1969. A branch still operates in the town, but
it moved from Elite Buildings a number of years ago.
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In Service: 4 February 1895
until 28 July 1972
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/2769
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  It was the special wish of Mr. Pollock that the minimum of fuss should be caused on the occasion of his retirement after 43
years' service, and so
the gathering which took place at Stanley branch on November 30th
was confined to his
most intimate associates, including a few
customers. He was presented with an electric blanket on behalf of the staff
and people with whom he has been
associated during his career. The previous week Mr. Pollock was entertained at District Office by Mr.
Walton, North Eastern District General Manager,
who had invited one or two of Mr. Pollock's close colleagues also to be
present. Mr. Pollock entered the Bank in 1916 at Sedgefield. He served with H.M. Forces from 1917-1919, afterwards returning to Sedgefield. He subsequently served at Loftus, Middlesbrough,
on the North Eastern District General Management staff in 1933 and 1942 and
at Whitley Bay, Jarrow and Byker.
He was appointed Manager at
Stanley in 1950.
 It’s all about time-keeping…
Following the sad demise
of Martins’ former Stanley branch in a fire in November 2013, we were
delighted to receive more positive news in the form of the memories of
someone who worked there. The
following short anecdote from Frank Peirson, who also worked at Shotley
Bridge and Blackhill Branches:
 “My favourite story about Stanley branch also
occurred when I was working for Manager Barrie Kirtley. (Pictured, right)
- The first cashier was
notorious for being late, sometimes very much so. It could be particularly
embarrassing if he was carrying the keys, especially one Friday morning which
was the day we allowed business customers to come in before opening time to
take away the pre-prepared wages - some of us remember cash! These business
customers arrived every ten minutes from, I think, 0830. By 0915 watches were
being checked, the atmosphere was cooling and the branch remained keyless. Barrie telephoned the
first cashier at home, some six miles away, only to hear the response,
'Good morning, Martins Bank, Stanley.'
'Don't be silly,' said Barrie, ‘THIS is Martins Bank, Stanley - are you
coming to work today?'
'What' - replied the first cashier,- 'at this time of night?'
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