11-05-60 Bootle (Cumberland)

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Bootle is Millom’s longest surviving sub-Branch, and despite being cut from seventeen and a half hours per week in the 1930s to only six per week by 1969, it remains open until the year 2000. What is remarkable about Bootle itself is that the distance of the railway from the village warrants both Martins and the District Bank each having a second sub-Branch in the village, at Bootle Station itself. Both of them are what we have previously termed “front room” Branches, being really no more than that part of someone’s house, and opened for just a couple of days of a few hours, each week.

In Service: 1840 until 7 April 2000

Bootle Branch in the 1930s and (below, left) in 1969

Branch Images © Barclays Ref: 0030/0312

1969 Bootle Cumberland Exterior Close Up BGA Ref 33-85.jpg In terms of security, this can bring problems – we have been told many stories of cashiers and their “guards” (often retired octogenarians) travelling by bus to a sub-Branch with thousands of pounds worth of cash in a bag. Some of the smallest sub-Branches will also have their own safes, which really should be protected by an alarm system, but sometimes they are not! Safes with a combination lock can also present big worries for staff who have little time from arrival at the branch to opening the doors to customers – getting the combination spot on, is a skill that is NOT always conducive to being in a hurry!

Bootle and Bootle Station are both listed as Bootle CUMBERLAND, to avoid confusion, as Martins Bank also has a further four Branches in Bootle LANCASHIRE. Our images show only subtle changes down the years at Bootle. The second image shows the branch at the time of the merger with Barclays in 1969. The main sign is replaced and a coat of arms hanging sign fitted to the front of the building. The opening hours plaque changes to reflect the reduced hours of the 1960s. Otherwise, it’s pleasing to think that as late as the year 2000 you could actually transact your banking business in such a quaint setting as this!