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The
very impressive doors of Martins Bank’s new branch at Burton upon Trent open
for business on 17 May 1956. Image © Martins Bank
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In Service: 17 May 1956 until 15 December 1969 Image © Barclays Ref
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Martins Bank Magazine wastes no time in paying the staff an early visit. When you read their article below, it will probably seem quaint that the Bank’s Chief Accountant had already told off the new branch staff for using the locally accepted name Burton ON Trent, instead of UPON! It appears that as well as “going to extremes to be helpful”, the Bank also insisted on correctness in all things! These days there are perhaps more important matters with which to concern ourselves… Burton upon Trent, despite its useful corner aspect is surplus to requirements when Barclays and martins merge. However, the local Barclays at 168 High Street is also closed, and the business of both banks is transferred to new premises at 22/23 High Street. Our
visit to the new branch at Burton on June 12th started on a controversial
note, for only that morning Chief Accountant's Department, Head Office, had
reproached the branch for heading one of its correspondence forms"
Burton on Trent " instead of “Burton upon Trent” as on the official
letter heading and cheques. One of the first things we noticed was the cheque
of another bank printed "Burton on Trent" and on various office
buildings the same style. Rather like
Newcastle on Tyne which is officially Newcastle upon Tyne though both styles
are widely used. Two or three years ago a North-Easterner whose identity I
have forgotten explained to me why "upon" is correct and
"on" isn't. I cannot remember the explanation but would be glad to
hear of it again, which is the reason for mentioning the incident here.
Anyway, the legal title of the place is Burton upon Trent, and our authority
is the Town Clerk. Well, there is no
need to tell anyone what Burton is famous for and it is evidently no old
wives' tale that the well water has something to do with the quality of the
brew, just as the waters of the Liffey are reputed to give Irish stout its
special quality. However, we didn't visit
Burton in order to take the waters but to spend a day at the extremely fine
branch we have opened there at the corner of Station Street and the High
Street. We imagine that this must be about the finest commercial building in
the town—a
delight to the eye both outside and in. The facade sweeps round the corner
site in a graceful curve, brick-built above stonework of polished grey
granite, the portico at the front and side entrances being lined with a green
marble, both colours being beautifully grained. Inside, the walls are
decorated in a pastel (mushroom) colour and the woodwork of the counter,
screens and panelling is quite the loveliest we have seen. |
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A single silver vase
of flowers kept on the table strikes just the right note. The office is very
light and airy, with large windows right down one side and along the front. The
floors upstairs are being fitted out for a large firm of solicitors and if
you want to see the very latest thing in decoration this is the place to
visit. Doors painted in pastel blue enamel, walls in various pastel shades,
with the fourth wall deep red, dark green and so on. You won't see anything
more modern in any of the London branch buildings which have been receiving
so much publicity, and the whole building, both branch and offices, is, in
its own style, as much a showplace as anything we possess and from its roof
outside the caretaker's flat a fine view over the town can be obtained in
every direction. We meet many interesting people on our travels and time
alone prevented us from making the acquaintance of someone whom we have
wanted to meet since boyhood days when at a seaside town we heard a comedian
describe a certain person's job as “painting spots on rocking horses”. |
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Well, most of the rocking horses are made
in Burton and as someone must paint the spots on them, we were obviously not
far from realising this little ambition. Another time, maybe! Thirty miles
away we once shook hands with a sagger maker's bottom knocker. The “What's My
Line?” organiser did not exhaust the possibilities of this part of the world
when he featured the last-named gentleman. The new branch is managed by a
very well-known personality, our old friend Mr. George L. Jackson, whose
activities first as Secretary and then as Chairman of the Staff Association
have earned both our gratitude and admiration. We went to his new home to
call for Mrs. Jackson who joined us for lunch. His house has several
attractive amenities including a flat roof which commands an excellent view
of the countryside, and his garden, a third of an acre in extent, is
attractively planned, well stocked and in excellent heart. Most garden lovers
would envy him. This branch is Mr.
Jackson's first appointment. All his
previous service having been in the Merseyside district, at Liverpool City
Office, Castle Street, Claughton Village, Trustee Department and 99 Stanley
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We were
pleased to meet his two daughters, the elder of whom hopes to go to a
university and aspires to be an architect. The younger does not seem averse
to banking as a career. Mr. J. L. Alexander is second-in-command. He
commenced his career at Ulverston in 1936, going to Barrow in 1947 and
Walsall in 1949. Mr.
T. M. Brown decided to make a career of banking after initial experience with
the Rolls-Royce Company and entered the bank last year, first on Midland
District Office relief staff and then at Derby. Miss
M. K. Brambley had only been in the Bank a week at the time of our visit and
by the time these notes appear she will have been joined by Miss A. G.
Miller. Miss Brambley, too, has had prior business experience. The new branch has made an
excellent start and we were most impressed with everything we saw. The whole
set-up is one of which to be proud. |
Image © Barclays Ref
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