11-86-80 Urmston

Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank

Martins Bank’s branch at Urmston, is acquired through the 1928 amalgamation of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. We see it here towards the end of its life as Martins in 1969, the merger sign already placed to the left of the front door. Urmston survives the merger until the end of May 2019, but its sub branch at nearby FLIXTON is not so lucky. Although the branch has always been at 12 Crofts Bank Road, it is clear from the image that the frontage has undergone a revamp at some time in the 1960s. We have a number of interior images and this slightly older exterior:

Our first Urmston feature is short but sweet, featuring a member of staff’s involvement with the release of a Morecambe and Wise Film in 1965. Then we take a look at a vintage Urmston cheque before finally we say goodbye to Mr Cudworth, who retires in 1965 after fifteen years as Manager of Urmston Branch…

In Service: 1908 until 31 May 2019

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-3018

Bring me sunshine…

1965 Miss Jackie Hoare wins cinema competition MBM-Su65P37 Some staff have all the luck, and one of them is Jackie Hoare from Urmston, who in the Spring of 1965 fulfills an unusual role connected with the exploits of one of Britain’s most loved comedy partnerships. Martins Bank Magazine explains, in this brief extract from their Summer 1965 number…

1965 02 MBM.jpg Miss Jackie Hoare of our Urmston branch (seen on the right of this photograph) is one of 14 girls chosen from more than one hundred applicants in the Manchester area to distribute programmes and act as hostess at the charity world premiere of the Morecambe and Wise film The Intelligence Men at the Odeon Cinema, Manchester, on March 25th. At the end of the performance all concerned were entertained to a supper at the Midland Hotel.

Wartime Banking…

This Urmston cheque is from World War II. It comes from a run of cheques printed for the Branch in February 1943. At this time a number of Martins’ Manchester District Branches use this particular design in salmon pink. They also display the letters M/C next to the National Number (an early form of sorting code number) to indicate the Manchester District. The amount in figures has yet to be moved to the right hand side of the cheque… There are a number of variations to be found around the country until the early 1960s when cheques begin to be standardised in readiness for computerisation.

Farewell, Mr Cudworth…

mr cudworth, Manager of Urmston branch, entertained with his wife more than twenty past and present colleagues to a cocktail party at the branch on April 29th to mark his retirement. Among those present were Mr E. H. Priestley (Manchester District General Manager) and Mr J. Speak (Manchester District Inspector). At Mr Cudworth's request there was no formal presentation ceremony but earlier in the day Mr F. Highley (Pro Manager) had handed him a cheque on behalf of subscribers and Mr Cudworth intends to buy a transistor radio.

Images © Barclays Ref 0030/3018

A bouquet was presented to Mrs Cudworth by Miss M. Booker. The previous week Mr and Mrs Cudworth had taken the staff and their wives to dinner at the Lantern Restaurant in Manchester and Mr Cudworth was entertained to lunch by Mr Priestley shortly before his retirement. He entered the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1920, serving at Great Harwood and Blackburn with several spells in Manchester District Office before his appointment as Assistant Accountant at Manchester City Office in 1947. The following year he moved to Shudehill branch as Pro Manager and in 1950 was appointed Manager at Urmston.

Images © Barclays Ref 0030/3018

We are grateful to Guy Taylor for the contemporary view of Urmston Branch. He took this photo a day or two before the Branch was closed down at the end of May 2019. Guy started his career here in August 1968, so this image is of particular poignancy to him…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3018

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection – Guy Taylor 2019



Mr H J Marsden Manager 1944 to 1950	Mr J H Aidley On the Staff 1946 to 1946	Mr A H Cudworth Manager 1950 to 1965	Mr F Highley Limited Authority 1961 to 1966	Miss Jackie Hoare Staff Member 1965	Mr R B Blomeley Manager 1965 to 1969



Mr D W Stevenson Pro Manager 1968	Mr D G Settle Mangaer 1969 onwards