


Martins Bank opens a Branch at
Cambridge in 1938 on Market Hill, in a lovely corner aspect property that survives
as a bank until 2011. Having your branch visible in two streets at once is a
popular device much prized by all the Banks, and Cambridge Branch seems also
to have a certain authority about its stonework, not least the pillars either
side of the main door.

In 1949 Martins Bank runs a
popular advertising campaign – “Roman Towns” – in 1949 that runs for several
years, with twelve English towns and cities chosen to be represented by their
Roman name and a short description of how they were in Roman times.
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In Service:
6 December 1938 – 3 June 2011


Image © Barclays - Ref 0030-0522
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The advertisements are
designed to be collectible and as such are numbered as part of a series in
some publications. Martins Bank
Magazine makes its one and only visit to Cambridge Branch in 1950, and revels
in the joy of being so close to some of the Country’s top universities…
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It was with
special pleasure that we learned of the decision to include Cambridge branch
in this feature, because Cambridge is a city we have never before had the
good fortune to visit. Our branch
there was opened by Mr. R. H. Price, now Staff Manager, just prior to the
outbreak of the Second World War. Mr.
A. B. Aitken, who succeeded him as Manager in 1940, went with him to open it,
and, apart from war service has been there ever since. On the mantelpiece of
his room reposes a Japanese samurai sword, surrendered to him by a Japanese
officer—an
interesting reminder of his war service in India, Burma and Saigon.
Mr. Aitken is an L. & Y. man who commenced his service at Eastbank Street
in 1924. He also served at St. Luke's, on H.O. Relief Staff, at Liverpool
City Office and at Ormskirk before going South. Always a keen sportsman, he
has now abandoned rugger for the gentler pursuit of golf, but wasn't seen at
Southport this year!

As
readers may judge from the photograph, our branch is situated close to some
of the loveliest and most famous buildings in the world, five minutes' walk
from the incomparable " backs " which were a carpet of daffodils of
all shades and varieties at the time of our visit April 12th. The office is
attractive, being light and airy, with low windows clear-glazed to give a
good view of the passing scene.
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Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections
Advertisment Remastered June 2018
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In
a way, visitors to this delightful city get a false impression of its
delectability from a resident's point of view, for town and gown are quite
distinct and a businessman in Cambridge is quite often in it without being of
it. Nevertheless, we have important interests to justify our presence there
and the branch is a very valuable link in our network of service. C. W.
Rodwell, the second man, is also an L. & Y. man with prior service at
Cheetham, Slade Lane, Ardwick and Stourport.
He served with H.M. Forces from 1940 to 1946 and took part in the
invasion operations in North-West Europe. He went to Cambridge in February of
last year. We were soon on common ground with J. G. Podmore as we followed
him at Allerton Road branch and each knew the same people. He entered the
Bank in 1935 at Liverpool City Office and also served at Garston and Sefton
Park before military service from 1939 to 1946. His principal service was in
Burma and by a curious coincidence he was at one time in the same camp as Mr.
Aitken and even attended the same concert, though they did not make each
other's acquaintance until he went to Cambridge in 1946 on demobilisation.
The remaining members of the staff are all " locals." D. V. Milne
joined the service last October. In his spare time he is a keen
instrumentalist, his speciality being religious music. He will be doing his
military service next year and hopes to take his Bankers' examinations whilst
on service. To our regret we did not meet Miss S. M. Hawkes who was away from
work owing to illness at home. She has been at the branch since March 1948,
and is now engaged to be married. Miss R. Clifton entered the service at
Cambridge in March, 1949. Her birthplace rather puzzled us and we had to
confess that we had never heard of Littleport, a few miles out of Cambridge.

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Even
the dark Cambridge clouds don’t spoil the Bank’s bright stand at the 1960
Royal Show.
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As
Mr. Aitken was on holiday at the time of our visit and as April 13th was Mrs.
Aitken's birthday we celebrated with a little luncheon party.

We
would not presume to lay down the qualities which go to make a good bank
manager, but surely pride of association with the place in which one works is
one of them and Mr. Aitken certainly has this, as we discovered during our
subsequent tour of the colleges when we commented disparagingly on the
amount of daisy in the lawns of King's College.

Although
not a keen gardener himself we were conscious of " a hush in the close
" after we had spoken. It is most refreshing to observe the great amount
of repair, renovation and even new building which seems to be going on
throughout the University. King's College Chapel has been cleaned inside and
the job of replacing the stained glass, removed for safety during the war,
is nearly finished.
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An extension is being built to St. Catherine's while
repairs are in hand at a dozen colleges, including Jesus College which was recently
damaged by fire.There is a purposefulness about the place which is a pleasant
contrast to the apathy which seems to have descended upon other places and a
coat of paint and a bit of cleaning does make such a difference. We had
coffee at Dorothy's, where Mrs. Aitken and young Simon joined us, listened to
the band and watched the dancing, observing with interest the absence of any
colour bar. Newmarket did not interest us but we stole an afternoon away from
the job and went to Ely to see the cathedral, being much impressed with its
beauty. The windows are among the richest in colouring and beauty we have so
far seen in this country. Cambridge is one of Mr. Norman-Butler's spiritual
homes and the coaching of crews is one of his specialities. He had recently
paid a visit for this purpose. Mr. Verity, too, was there a few weeks before
our visit, so the branch cannot complain of being neglected. When we think of
the situation of some of our industrial and suburban branches, we feel that
there are many compensations for those whose work takes them to a place like
Cambridge.

Our Thanks to Geoff Dunn for this contribution to
our series of “then and now” shots of Martins Bank’s former branches. The
two images are around fifty years apart,
the name of the new “Boss” is just visible on the signage above the
window on the left. Barclays vacated
this building in June 2011…

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1964
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0522
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2014
Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections - Geoff Dunn
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Mr R H Price
Manager
1938 to 1940
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Mr W D longfield
On the Staff
1938 to 1947
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Mr D V Milne
On the Staff
1949 to 1962
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Mr D G Hill
On the Staff
1962 to 1966
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Mr C J Pearce
Pro Manager
1965
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Mr D M J Harding
Manager
1966 to 1969
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Mr A F Crowder
Pro Manager
1966 to 1967
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Mr N R Frake
Pro Manager
1967
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Sally Edge
On the Staff
1967
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Mr W W Isle
Manager
1969 onwards
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BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED
Income Tax & Trustee Dept
Bene't Street
Cherryhinton Road
Mill Road
76-78 Newmarket Road
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St Andrew's St
Sidney Street
Chesterton
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DISTRICT BANK LIMITED
9 Trinity Street
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INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL FINANCE
CORPORATION
Prudential Building St
Andrew’s Street
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LLOYDS BANK LIMITED
Eastern Counties District Office
Executor & Trustee Dept
Sidney Street
Chesterton Road
Cattle Market
Cherry Hinton
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Mill Road
Newmarket Road
Trinity Street
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MARTINS BANK LIMITED
30 Market Hill
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MIDLAND BANK LIMITED
52 Street Andrew’s Street
Market Hill
Brooklands Avenue
13 Burleigh Street
Cherry Hinton
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Chesterton Road
Executor & Trustee
Mill Road
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NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK
Trinity Street
St Andrew’s Street
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UNITED DOMINIONS TRUST
2 Regent Street
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WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED
28 Trinity Street
Fitzroy Street
St Andrew’s Street
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WILLIAMS DEACON’S BANK
28 Trinity Street
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Title:
Type:
Address:
Index
Number and District:
Hours:
Telephone:
Services:
Manager:
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11-46-20
Cambridge
Full Branch
30 Market
Hill Cambridge
457 London
Mon to Fri
1000-1500
Saturday
0900-1130
Cambridge
58348
Nightsafe
Installed
Mr W W Isle
Manager
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Calne
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6
December 1938
15
December 1969
3
June 2011
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Opened by
Martins Bank Limited
Barclays Bank
Limited 20-17-38 Cambridge Market Hill
Closed and transferred to Cambridge St Andrew’s Branch
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Canterbury
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M

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