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We don’t want to sound
rude, but – WHAT? WHERE? and WHY? This has to be the oddest
looking of Martins Bank’s Branch buildings, and the fact that you need to
take a second look to try and understand it all is very apt indeed, for today
this building is an Opticians’ Shop!
This branch at Hetton-le-Hole (perhaps that is “le Hole” to the left
of the picture?) opens in 1891, and survives the mergers that will lead it
eventually into Barclays’ possession.
For our feature, we drop in on the retirement of the Branch Manager,
Mr Ellis, who hangs up his bank tie for the last time at the end of June
1962. As always, Martins Bank Magazine
is there to describe the festivities…
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In Service: 1891 until December
1976
Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030-1296
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  At
the end of June, Mr. J. Ellis, Manager at Hetton-le-Hole branch since 1949,
retired on grounds of health. Unfortunately, he was not sufficiently well to
leave his home to attend any form of presentation. In these circumstances,
therefore, his closest contemporary during the past decade—Mr. E. Blythe (Manager, Houghton-le-Spring),
accompanied by his wife, visited Mr. Ellis at his new home at Crawleyside on Sunday,
July 1st., to make the presentation on behalf of his friends and colleagues
of a cheque. Mrs. Blythe presented a bouquet to Mrs. Ellis and the occasion
was marked by a small family gathering. Mr. Ellis intends to put the cheque
towards the purchase of a greenhouse. Mr. Ellis
entered the Bank in 1920 at Middlesbrough, and subsequently served at
Stokesley, Linthorpe Road, on the North Eastern District General Manager's
staff and at Stockton-on-Tees. His first appointment was as Clerk-in-Charge
at Norton Road in 1946 and he became Manager at Hetton-le-Hole three years
later.
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