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Martins Bank’s sub-branch at Birstall is an original branch of The West
Riding Union Bank, and has been open
since at least 1881 when that bank is first registered as a limited
company. At this time Birstall is noted
as a full branch, but by 1901 it is recorded as a sub-Branch to Batley, which
is how it remains into the 1960s. The merger in 1902 of the West riding Union
Bank with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank is hugely significant, as it
cements the future coverage of Martins Bank into just about every major town
and village across the whole of the North of England. By 1968 opening hours at Birstall are a
respectable twenty-one per week spread over six days, which is enough to
provide a good basic banking service for local businesses. |
In Service: By 1881 until 7 April 2000
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Image © Barclays Ref 0030/0262 |
This is a piece of banking furniture, indeed a piece of advanced
technology that should not be underestimated – as a kind of reverse cash
machine of its day, it allows the deposit
of cash and other items at any time of the day or night. We think you will agree that this is not
bad for a totally non-electrical device!
Birstall Branch survives the merger with Barclays, and just makes it
into the twenty-first century before closing its doors for the last time in
April 2000. |
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