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A sub-Branch at Bedlington
Station is opened on 17 November 1919 by the Bank of Liverpool and Martins.
Image
© Martins Bank Archive Collections Advertisement remastered
14/08/2020
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In Service: 17 November 1919
until 8 April 1988
Bedlington
Station sub-branch at 4 Palace Road Image
© Barclays Ref 0030-0146
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There is already another branch
at Bedlington, which has been open in the Market place since 1875 when it was
owned by the North Eastern Banking Company. The Market place Branch will act
as parent to the new sub-branch at Bedlington Station. At some point during the ownership of Martins
Bank, the business of this little sub-branch is moved from Station
Road to No 4 Palace Road. The image above from the Barclays Collection of
Martins Bank Branch photographs shows the PALACE ROAD office. Not only
does Bedlington Station survive the merger with Barclays, it continues in
service until 1988.
In the 1960s it is open six
days a week, bringing convenient banking services to local people and
traders. This image of the Branch was
taken sometime around 1960, although the hand-painted signage on the window
and above the door does appear to be from an even earlier time. The radio shop next door offers a
somewhat brief glimpse of the “white heat” of 1960s technology, at this point
the days of the glass valve are numbered, and the transistor has already
revolutionised the future of the portable radio. Very soon this new
technology will turn the world of Banking on its head too, by making possible
the means to move from paper records to full solid state computer systems
capable of looking after the affairs of thousands of customers.
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