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Acquiring the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank provides the Bank
of Liverpool – consequently Martins Bank – with a number of branches in some of
the furthest Northern parts of England, right up to the Scottish Border. In
the late 1830s business at Appleby branch progresses steadily, but some
problems do arise in 1842. Mr John
Atkinson, tea dealer and former Agent of the bank’s business, is prosecuted
for embezzlement and duly convicted. |
In Service: Pre 1911 until
Friday 18 May 2018 Image © Barclays Ref 0030/0055 |
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The bank is forced to recover what it can of his personal overdraft,
which at Ł667 (Ł63,000 today) is still a VERY high figure, and it sells
Atkinson’s ten shares in the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank. This is a learning curve for the bank, as
it is their own original promise of a substantial overdraft for Mr Atkinson
that induces him to become the Agent at Appleby. They review policy in respect of other
agents in order to minimise any future losses. In 1875, despite a number of ‘flat’ years
of trading, the Carlisle and Cumberland undertakes a number of building
projects which include the re-building of the Appleby branch. xADAPTED
FROM FOUR CENTURIES OF BANKING
VOL II © MARTINS BANK LIMITED 1968 Spe1 |
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Original
cheques from the days of the Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company are hard
to come by these days, so we were delighted when this image of an Appleby
Branch cheque was donated to Martins Bank Archive by Stephen Walker. It dates
from December 1882, at which time the Bank uses the London and Westminster
Bank as its London Clearing Agents. Image © Martins Bank Archive
Collections – Stephen Walker |
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Whilst
Kendal is the administrative centre for Westmorland, Appleby is the County
Town, and home to the famous Horse Fair whose participants make a slow but
steady annual journey to the town by horse and caravan. In the 1960s Martins
Bank Appleby receives the open, bright and welcoming treatment, showing that
on the inside at least, some of the Bank’s oldest offices really can be
tastefully brought up to date and made ready for the business of modern
banking. |
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Image © Barclays Ref 0033/0023 ABOVE:
Could it be that parking outside the branch is yet another of the ways in
which Martins goes to extremes to be helpful to its customers at Appleby in
Westmorland? RIGHT: The almost “church-like” exterior of the Branch… |
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/0055 |
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Boys and
their toys… In
the days before the M6 has reached this area, the narrow, beautiful and often
dangerous roads of Cumberland and Westmorland are just right for those who
“feel the need for speed”. One of
these people is Appleby Branch staff Member Alan Ritchie, who shows off this
sporty little number in the Autumn 1961 edition of Martins Bank Magazine, but
with, apparently, safety
foremost in his mind… Mr. Alan
Ritchie (Appleby), son of Mr. J. H. Ritchie (Manager, Penrith), was the
winner of the second annual Road Safety Rally organised by the Cumberland
Sporting Car Club and the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary in May.
There were 51 competitors and
in addition to the points awarded for correct driving there were a number of
exacting tests. Mr. Ritchie was accompanied by his wife, who was formerly on
our staff at Carlisle. Farewell,
Mr Totty… A party of colleagues met at Appleby
branch on October 28 when the District General Manager presented Mr Totty
with a cheque on behalf of subscribers and Miss Sandra Carrick presented Mrs
Totty with a piece of Beswick pottery. Mr D. D.
Gibson spoke of the enthusiasm shown by Mr Totty in all that he had undertaken
whether in his daily work or in his favourite hobbies of canoeing and
scouting. Mr Buchanan outlined Mr Totty's career before making the
presentation and spoke appreciatively of his services both to the Bank and to
outside organisations. Mr Totty responded with some amusing
anecdotes about his service in Liverpool and the North, following which the
guests were entertained to drinks and refreshments in the office. Mr Totty entered the service in 1925 at Water Street,
working in the Liverpool and Chester areas until joining H.M. Forces in 1939.
He joined the Northern District in 1946 and after eleven years at Ambleside
became Manager at Appleby in 1959. In retirement he will live at Arnside. |
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