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Bank of Liverpool

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Opened in 1887 by the Bank of Liverpool, and closed on 26 July 2013 by Barclays, Martins Bank’s main Birkenhead Branch at Hamilton Square is certainly palatial, the kind of building that would provide a really good backdrop for a royal visit perhaps – but is it really fit for a queen?  Well, yes, it is, as in 1957 our still nearly-new Queen and husband Prince Philip pay a visit to this part of Cheshire. A picture is taken of the couple which just so happens to have Birkenhead Branch in the background – this proves of course irresistible to Martins Bank Magazine…

A Royal wave…

 

1957 04 MBM.jpg

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Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip on the balcony of Birkenhead Town Hall on the occasion of the Royal Visit to Birkenhead earlier  this year. In the background is our Hamilton Square Branch.

In service: 1887 – 26 July 2013

 

Branch Images © Barclays Ref: 0030-0197

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On the afternoon of June 25th, a large gathering of colleagues took place at Birkenhead branch to say farewell to Mr. T. A. Grimes, on the occasion of his retirement from the bank after 44 years' service. Among those present were Mr. R. H. Price, Mr. A. Tunnington, Mr. W. H. Home, Mr. G. Harrison, Mr. T. L. Thomas, Mr. S. N. Rimmer, Mr. G. G. Dobell, Mr. G. Beckett, Mr. G. H. Shepherd, Mr. A. Wall Jones, Mr. W. H. MacCormack, Mr. J. K. Washington, Mr. S. T. Rees and several retired colleagues. The presentation of a cheque was made by Mr. T. A. Johnson, Liverpool District General Manager, on behalf of subscribers. He paid a warm tribute to the qualities which have endeared Mr. Grimes to us all, not the least of which is his kindness to everyone. In his reply Mr. Grimes said that he intended to buy himself a standard reading lamp and a picture. He treated his listeners to some interesting reminiscences and concluded by referring to the value of a sense of humour in a profession such as ours. Mr. Grimes entered the service of the bank on January ist, 1903, at Kirkby Lonsdale. In 1908 he went to Keswick and in 1912 to East branch. From 1914 to 1919 he served with H.M. Forces, resuming his banking career at East branch, where he was appointed pro manager in 1922. In 1929 he became Manager of Wavertree branch, and received his appoint­ment as Manager at Birkenhead branch in 1935. In 1938 the branch at Neston also came under his managership. At the conclusion of the formal proceedings the company was entertained to tea. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. H. G. Herbert, Mr. A. Dan Thomas, Mr. John Currie and Mr. W. Roberts.

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An unbroken chain of command…

We were delighted when former Martins Staff Member Ian Winkley got in touch and donated to the Archive this image of SIX Managers of Birkenhead Hamilton Square Branch. What makes the photo of great historical value, is that this is an unbroken chain of the Managers who served between them from 1935 to 1975. 

Both Ian and his wife Elizabeth worked for Martins in the 1960s, and Mr H G Campbell, the Manager on the far right of the photo, is Elizabeth’s father.  The Managers are (from left to right):

Mr T A Grimes              (1935 to 1947)

Mr J K Washington         (1947 to 1949)

Mr J Edwards                 (1949 to 1959)

Mr A W J Roberts          (1959 to 1968)

Mr N E Leach                 (1968 to 1975)

Mr H G Campbell          (1975 to 1979)

Image © 1975 Martins Bank Archive Collections – Ian Winkley

Thanks to the amazing foresight of Robert Montgomery, who began taking photographs of Bank branches in 2009, we have access to a treasure trove of comparison images for Martins Bank outlets, as they were, and as they were again before permanent closure.

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0197

It looks like the building was already up for auction when Robert took this colour image of Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square Branch, in June 2009 just four years before it was closed by Barclays.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Robert Montgomery

 

 

 

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

Hamilton Square

Charing Cross

DISTRICT BANK LIMITED

56 Hamilton Street

Charing Cross

Prenton

Upton

LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

Charing Cross

Hamilton Square

Central

Prenton

West End

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

Hamilton Square

Borough Road

Charing Cross

Claughton Village

Higher Tranmere

Park

Prenton

Rock Ferry

Upton

 

MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

Hamilton Street

Charing Cross

Laird Street

North End

Oxton

Prenton

Rock Ferry, New Chester Rd

Rock Ferry,Dacre Hill

Tranmere

NATIONAL BANK LIMITED

Hamilton Square

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK

Hamilton Square

Charing Cross

Higher Tranmere

 

ROYAL BANK OF IRELAND

Hamilton Street

WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED

Hamilton Street

Charing Cross

1904 to 1907 MR C H Billeau MBM-Au47P20

1917 Mr F F W Youd joined the bank here MBM-Su61P56

1918 to 1921 Mr J K Washington joined the bank here MBM-Au60P48

1922 to 1935 Mr H Unsworth Manager from 1932 MBM-Sp51P25.jpg

1925 to 1927 Mr A W Hindle MBM-Wi49P10.jpg

1928 to 1930 Mr C P Williams Pro Manager MBM-Sp48P11.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr C H Billeau

On the Staff

1904 to 1907

Mr F F W Youd

Joined the Bank Here

1917

Mr J K Washington

Joined the Bank Here

1918 to 1921

Mr H Unsworth

1922 to 1935

Pro Manager from 1932

Mr A W Hindle

On the Staff

1925 to 1927

Mr C P Williams

Pro Manager

1928 to 1930

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1930 to 1932 approx Mr G M Petty MBM-Au63P55.jpg

1932 to 1935 Mr George Ball Manager MBM-Wi46P19.jpg

1936 to 1939 Mr C F Milliken joined the bank here MBM-Sp69P51.jpg

1938 to 1939 Mr E J F Crawford MBM-Su67P07.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr G M Petty

On the Staff

1930 to 1932

Mr George Ball

Manager

1932 to 1935

Mr A D Thomas

Pro Manager

1934 to 1936

Mr T A Grimes

Manager

1935 to 1947

Mr C F Milliken

Joined the Bank Here

1936 to 1939

Mr E J F Crawford

On the Staff

1938 to 1939

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1940 to 1941 Mr D E Brewis joined the bank here MBM-Sp65P03.jpg

1943 to 1944 Mr D J Corlett joined the bank here MBM-Su64P06.jpg

1945 to 1945 Mr P J Randle MBM-Su67P02.jpg

1947 to 1948 Mr F A Roberts joined the bank here MBM-Su65P09.jpg

1952 to 1956 Mr N E Leach Pro Manager MBM-Sp68P07.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr D E Brewis

Joines the Bank Here

1940 to 1941

Mr D J Corlett

Joined the Bank Here

1943 to 1944

Mr P J Randle

On the Staff

1945 to 1945

Mr F A Roberts

Joined the Bank Here

1947 to 1948

Mr J K Washington

Manager

1947 to 1949

Mr N E Leach

Pro Manager 1952-56

Manager 1968 to 1975

 

 

 

 

 

1956 to 1961 Mr H F Smith Pro Manager MBM-Su67P03.jpg

1959 to 1968 Mr A W J Roberts Manager MBM-Sp68P04.jpg

1961 to 1964 Mr HV Bateson Pro Manager MBM-Au64P05.jpg

1964 Mr RF Dixon pro Manager MBM-Au64P03.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr J Edwards

Manager

1949 to 1957

Mr H F Smith

Pro Manager

1956 to 1961

Mr A W J Roberts

Manager

1957 to 1968

Mr H V Bateson

Pro Manager

1961 to 1964

Mr R F Dixon

Pro Manager

1964

Mr H G Campbell

Manager

1975 to 1979

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Title:

Type:

Address:

Index No and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

11-74-00 Birkenhead

Full Branch

50 Hamilton Square Birkenhead Cheshire

5 Liverpool

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

BIRkenhead 6700 & 9191

Nightsafe Installed

Mr N E Leach Manager

 

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Birkenhead Dacre Hill

1887

18 December 1918

3 January 1928

15 December 1969

 Friday 26 July 2013

Opened by Bank of Liverpool

Bank of Liverpool and Martins Limited

Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-07-42 Birkenhead 50 Hamilton Square

Closed permanently from 12 noon

Birkenhead Higher Tranmere

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