11-27-50 Lancaster 53 Market Street Temporary Branch

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The excitement must have been palpable in October 1962, when Lancaster Branch reopened at 38 Market Street following extensive modernisation. The Lancaster Guardian and Observer runs a major article, part of which is reproduced here for illustration.

In Service:- 1 May 1962 until Saturday 13 July 1962

“The Lancaster branch of Martins Bank which has been operating for some months in temporary premises at 53 Market Street will move back to its permanent home at 38 Market Street, next Monday following extensive alterations and modernisation. New and traditional materials have been cleverly used to give the interior a new look. In the banking hall, the counter is of polished teak with a pearl blue granite front”…

Newspaper image and text – Lancaster Guardian and Observer, 12 July 1962

Image © National World Publishing Limited Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

Image reproduced with kind permission of The British Newspaper Archive

www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

The history of Martins Bank is summarised, and the special mosaic artwork commissioned by the Bank to be displayed in the entrance/vestibule of the Branch is also featured. There is a portrait photograph of Branch Manager Mr J G Young, and a view of the new and modern counter area. The 1960s sees the building, re-building, re-fitting and modernisation of many of the Bank’s older Branches.

Among the largest to be given major make-overs are HARTLEPOOL YORK ROAD, HEXHAM, WEST BROMWICH, CARLISLE, and Lancaster. 38 Market Street Lancaster was an original branch of the Manchester and Salford Bank in the nineteenth century, before being sold to the Kendal Bank, and by process of amalgamations found its way into the ownership of Martins Bank. With FIVE floors (including one below ground incorporating TWO large safes, there is a lot to refurbish! For the six months’ worth of this particular refit, the business of the branch is moved to temporary premises at 53 Market Street, which in the twenty-first century is the John o’ Gaunt Public House. Sadly, most of the Bank’s temporary branches – Lancaster included – were not photographed for posterity. As this particular temporary branch was only in use for a few months, we have not displayed a staff gallery below – you can meet all of the Lancaster staff for whom we do have images, on the main page for LANCASTER Branch.