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Opened in
1887 by the Bank of Liverpool, and closed on 26 July 2013 by Barclays,
Martins Bank’s main Birkenhead Branch at Hamilton Square is certainly
palatial, the kind of building that would provide a really good backdrop for
a royal visit perhaps – but is it really fit for a queen? Well, yes, it is, as in 1957 our still
nearly-new Queen and husband Prince Philip pay a visit to this part of
Cheshire. A picture is taken of the couple which just so happens to have Birkenhead
Branch in the background – this proves of course irresistible to Martins Bank
Magazine…
A
Royal wave…
Her Majesty the
Queen and Prince Philip on the balcony of Birkenhead Town Hall on the
occasion of the Royal Visit to Birkenhead earlier this year. In the background is our
Hamilton Square Branch.
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In service: 1887 – 26 July 2013
Branch Images © Barclays Ref:
0030-0197
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  On the afternoon of June 25th, a large gathering
of colleagues took place at Birkenhead branch to say farewell to Mr. T. A.
Grimes, on the occasion of his retirement from the bank after 44 years'
service. Among those present were Mr. R. H. Price, Mr. A. Tunnington, Mr. W.
H. Home, Mr. G. Harrison, Mr. T. L. Thomas, Mr. S. N. Rimmer, Mr. G. G.
Dobell, Mr. G. Beckett, Mr. G. H. Shepherd, Mr. A. Wall Jones, Mr. W. H.
MacCormack, Mr. J. K. Washington, Mr. S. T. Rees and several retired
colleagues. The presentation of a cheque was made by Mr. T. A. Johnson,
Liverpool District General Manager, on behalf of subscribers. He paid a warm
tribute to the qualities which have endeared Mr. Grimes to us all, not the
least of which is his kindness to everyone. In his reply Mr. Grimes said that
he intended to buy himself a standard reading lamp and a picture. He treated
his listeners to some interesting reminiscences and concluded by referring to
the value of a sense of humour in a profession such as ours. Mr. Grimes
entered the service of the bank on January ist, 1903, at Kirkby Lonsdale. In
1908 he went to Keswick and in 1912 to East branch. From 1914 to 1919 he
served with H.M. Forces, resuming his banking career at East branch, where he
was appointed pro manager in 1922. In 1929 he became Manager of Wavertree
branch, and received his appointment as Manager at Birkenhead branch in
1935. In 1938 the branch at Neston also came under his managership. At the
conclusion of the formal proceedings the company was entertained to tea.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr. H. G. Herbert, Mr. A. Dan
Thomas, Mr. John Currie and Mr. W. Roberts.
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An
unbroken
chain of command…
We were delighted when former Martins Staff Member Ian Winkley got in touch
and donated to the Archive this image of SIX Managers of
Birkenhead Hamilton Square Branch. What makes the photo of great historical
value, is that this is an unbroken chain of the Managers who served between
them from 1935 to 1975.
Both Ian and his wife Elizabeth worked for Martins in the 1960s, and
Mr H G Campbell, the Manager on the far right of the photo, is Elizabeth’s
father. The Managers are (from left
to right):
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Mr T
A Grimes (1935 to
1947)
Mr J
K Washington (1947 to 1949)
Mr J
Edwards (1949 to
1959)
Mr A
W J Roberts (1959 to 1968)
Mr N
E Leach (1968 to
1975)
Mr H
G Campbell (1975 to 1979)
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Image
© 1975 Martins Bank Archive Collections – Ian Winkley
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Thanks to the amazing foresight of Robert
Montgomery, who began taking photographs of Bank branches in 2009, we have
access to a treasure trove of comparison images for Martins Bank outlets,
as they were, and as they were again before permanent closure.
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Image © Barclays Ref:
0030-0197
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It looks like the building was already up for
auction when Robert took this colour image of Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square
Branch, in June 2009 just four years before it was closed by Barclays.
Image © Martins Bank
Archive Collections – Robert Montgomery
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