The Bank of Liverpool and Martins opens a branch at Chester Road, Sunderland in 1923, and Barclays is still operating there today. Chester Road is a full branch of Martins right up to the 1969 merger, and is one of ten branches and sub branches in the area at that time. We have two short features from Martins Bank Magazine, the first concerns a rare occurrence on a day when things “add up”, the second says goodbye to Mr Walker who in 1962 has been Manager at Chester road for ten years…

Number order

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/2836

It might only happen once in a lifetime, but to lowly clerks adding up piles and piles of vouchers, the result can sometimes seem almost exciting – a seemingly random combination of summary totals are added together and the final result looks like you just made it up for fun! That is pretty much what happened with this Branch Payment summary for Chester Road Branch from 1958…

At the express wish of Mr. Walker no presentation was made to him on the occasion of his retirement at the end of March after 46 years' service, but he was entertained to lunch by his District General Manager, who called at Chester Road branch to express his personal good wishes and those of the Bank for a very happy retirement. Mr. Walker entered the Bank in 1916 and during the course of his career he served at Seaham Harbour, Millfield, Stockton, Monkwearmouth and on the District General Manager's staff at Newcastle upon Tyne before his first appointment as Acting Manager at Seaham Harbour from 1942-46. He was appointed Manager at Willington in 1949 and at Chester Road, Sunderland, in 1952. During the days preceding his retirement several customers called at the branch to express their gratitude to Mr. Walker for his help and guidance over the past ten years, and immediately prior to leaving the office, each member of the staff wished him a long and happy retirement.

Mr Septimus Harvey Manager 1923 to 1928	Mr J W Chapman Manager 1928 to 1932	Mr J A Naisbitt Manager 1932 to 1934	Mr F W Fawcett Manager 1934 to 1945	Mr F Bates On the Staff 1939 to 1941	Mr R Hunter On the Staff 1934 to 1945
Mr W J Richardson Manager 1945 to 1947	Mr L Walker Manager 1952 to 1962	Mr A Forsyth Clerk in Charge 1962 to 1965	Mr A M Parr Manager 1965 to 1967	Mr R W Rand Manager 1967 onwards

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Manager:

11-74-22 Sunderland Chester Road

Full Branch

135 Chester Road Sunderland County Durham

386 North Eastern

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

Sunderland 4905

Nightsafe Installed

Mr R W Rand Manager

11 August 1923

3 January 1928

15 Decemeber 1969

19 June 2020

Opened by the Bank of Liverpool and Martins

Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-83-68 Sunderland Chester Road

Closed permanently from 12 Noon