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The Bank of Liverpool and Martins opens its branch
at Blyth in 1924, adding to Martins Bank’s strong presence on the North East
Coast. By 1969, having taken over many branches in the North East, Barclays
has to make some tough decisions, and many of them face the axe within a
short time of the merger. The photograph does not give much away about the fate of the three
large upstairs windows, apart from the fact that they appear to have been bricked
up many years before the image was taken.
Blyth survives for just a few months, closing
altogether in July 1970. The branch is
visited by Martins Bank magazine in 1965 as
part of its “As and Bs in Northumberland” feature. Very little information is
printed about each branch, so that doesn’t leave much for us to show you
about Blyth.
However, the staff of the Magazine seems to
have been greeted with enthusiasm by those at each branch visited, where all
dutifully pose for a group shot. After the
“lightning trip” to Blyth, we drop in on the retirement celebration of
Mr J Cranson Potts, Manager of the branch for eleven years…
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In Service
1924 until 10 July 1970
Branch Images © Barclays
Ref 0030-0302
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  In
the seventeenth century, coal at Blyth was hauled in horse-drawn trains along
wooden rails from Bebside Colliery to the river for shipment. Today much bigger shipments of coal
continue, particularly for power stations in the south, and coal with
ship-building, repairing and breaking, still provides most of Blyth’s
livelihood though an industrial estate nearby offers much needed
diversification. From Mr Burnett, our Manager, we obtained a handbook which
confirmed the close proximity of a three-mile beach, something which few such
towns can boast.
 On
the occasion of the retirement of Mr. J. C. Potts after over 44 years'
service, he and Mrs. Potts entertained a party of his colleagues, past and
present, to tea and cocktails at the Barrakka Hotel, Blyth. During the evening Mr. D. E. Lowery presented Mr. Potts
with a tape recorder on behalf of the subscribers, and Miss 1. Daley
presented Mrs. Potts with a bouquet. In the
unavoidable absence of the District General Manager, thanks to Mr. Potts for
his loyal and faithful service were expressed by Mr. W. S. Blaylock.
In his reply, Mr. Potts was in  reminiscent
mood and spoke amusingly of the old days at Middlesbrough. Behind this bare recital of facts lies the story of a man
of strong character who was prepared to fight and suffer for his principles.
Some of us from other Districts had the pleasure of meeting him and his wife
on the occasion of last year's holiday party to Interlaken, and were
instantly impressed by his rugged character and broad humanity. A first-class
tennis player still and a talented amateur actor, he will find much to occupy
his leisure time happily, and, as a matter of fact, he has a principal part
as Dvorak in 'Summer Song' which the Whitley Bay Operatic Society are
performing in April. The Bank is poorer by the loss of these strong individualists.
Cranson Potts entered the Bank in 1916 and in the
course of his career served at Belford, Blackhill, Easington Colliery,
Middlesbrough, Northumberland Street, North Shields, Ashington, on Relief and
on the North Eastern D.G.M. staff. He was appointed Manager at Blyth in 1949.
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