11-62-70 Sedgefield

The Sedgefield Constituency…

Sedgefield Branch is opened in 1895 by the North Eastern Banking Company, whose portfolio grows rapidly through the twenty year period to 1914 when it amalgamates with the Bank of Liverpool. We couldn’t resist this long shot image of our branch, which gives it a rather grand appearance, but later on we will look at the building in close-up.

In Service: 1895 until 11 May 2018

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2759

Sedgefield has two sub branches – one at Fishburn, the other at Trimdon Grange. The second, linked with name of Sedgefield itself will probably be in many people’s memories as the political training ground of a certain former Member of Parliament turned world famous ex-prime minister turned Knight of the Garter. We hope therefore that this page of mass-information is capable both of launching and maintaining your interest for longer than 45 seconds. It is very difficult to resist puns on this subject, and we have toyed with others such as “tough on debt, tough on the causes of debt” and “amortisation, amortisation, amortisation”. Still, enough of our poor humour, let’s hope instead that “things can only get better” as we journey back to 1954 to celebrate the retirement of Sedgefield’s Branch Manager, Mr Chapman…

1954 01 MBM.jpg 1954 Mr J W Chapman Manager MBM-Sp54P52.jpg Mr. J. W. Chapman, who retired at the end of December, 1953, began his career with the North Eastern Banking Co. Ltd., in Sunderland, in 1908. In the following year he went to King Street, South Shields. He joined the colours in 1914, and during the First World War served with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, holding a commission in the famous Quayside Company. At the end of the war he returned to the Bank at King Street, and was transferred in the same year to Quayside and in 1922 to Laygate. His first managerial appointment was at Shotley Bridge in 1924, and he returned to Sunderland to manage Chester Road branch in 1928. His appointment to the managership at Sedgefield came in 1932. A pleasing ceremony took place at Sedgefield branch on January 6^th, when a representative gathering of past and present members of the staff and colleagues in the district met to wish Mr. Chapman a long and happy retirement. Mrs. Chapman was also present.

On behalf of the company, Mr. F. Robinson, Manager at Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, presented Mr. Chapman with a fishing rod and Mrs. Chapman with a coffee table. In thanking the company for these gifts, Mr. Chapman also expressed his appreciation of the cooperation of his staff during his period of managership, making particular reference in this instance to Mr. J. Patten. Mrs. Chapman also expressed her thanks. Later, the company adjourned to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman, where they were entertained to supper.

With no official visits to the branch by Martins Bank Magazine, we are, thankfully, left with a number of images of Sedgefield Branch in the Barclays Collection. We are pleased that the internal images below show something of the branch before the new ideas of the mid 1960s that changed the look of so many of Martins Bank’s branches. Sedgefield remained open until 11 May 2018, and now joins its fellow closed former Martins Branches sinking slowly into history itself…

1960 s Sedgefield Interior 3 BGA Ref 30-2579

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2759

1960 s Sedgefield Interior 4 BGA Ref 30-2579

1960 s Sedgefield Interior 5 BGA Ref 30-2579

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2759

1960 s Sedgefield Interior 6 BGA Ref 30-2579

1960 s Sedgefield Exterior 1 CU BGA Ref 30-2579

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2759



*Mr G W Gibson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1924*	*Mr A D Scotson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1928 to 1934*	*Mr J W Chapman* *Manager* *1932 to 1954*	*Mr M A Charlton* *On the Staff* *1940 to 1941*	*Mr J W Jaques* *1946 to 1949 and* *1969 as Manager*	*Mr T E Smith* *Joined the Bank Here* *1953 to 1956*



*Mr H Dixon* *Manager* *1954 to 1962*	*Mr D W Air* *Manager* *1962 to 1969*	*Mr R B Dixon* *On the Staff* *1964 to 1965*