11-34-20 Buersil

A branch at Buersil, Rochdale, is opened in 1909 by the Palatine Bank. By the 1960s, it is one of Martins Bank’s larger self accounting sub-Branches, and opens for the full banking week. Buersil is kept open during the Second World War, when it is managed for three years by Mrs Muriel Caladine, one of an army of lady clerks that steps in, to look after Martins Bank’s branches during the conflict. Muriel is in fact the only member of the Buersil staff for which we have a photograph. Buersil survives the merger with Barclays, and stays open until the late Summer of 1992. How marvellous it is to see the branch doubling up as a signpost for the A627 and A664, and that the local dentist can be found upstairs - Martins really DO go to extremes to be helpful!