11-85-02 Blackpool Whitegate Drive

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Just as you would expect to find sellers of ice cream, kiss me quick hats and saucy postcards, and gift kiosks scattered at regular intervals throughout Blackpool, so it is with Martins Branches in the 1960s – you are never far too away from one to look after your money needs whilst enjoying your holiday at Britain’s premier seaside resort.

A total of eight Martins Branches are available at one time or another between 1924 and 1969, just the thing when you need a ten bob note to treat the family to a fish supper, and still have change for ice creams. In 1950, ten shillings (50p) was worth almost £20 in today’s money.

In Service 8 April 1929 until 25 September 2015

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0291

The images that we have of Blackpool staff are all currently on display in the staff gallery for Martins Bank’s main Blackpool Branch at 22 Clifton Street. If you worked at Whitegate Drive, Bispham, North Shore or South Shore, please let us know, along with the approximate year, at: martinsbankarchive@btinternet.com. Whitegate Drive is a sub-Branch to Blackpool Clifton Street, and like so many of Martins’ sub-Branches serves this area of the town from can best be described as someone’s house! During World War II the Branch remains open, and is run by Miss Dorothy Hoyle, one of the army of women clerks in charge that helped keep Martins Bank trading throughout the conflict. You can read more about the Wartime Clerks in Charge on our Martins at War Feature Page: GENTLEMEN – THE LADIES. At the time of the merger of Martins and Barclays Bank in 1969, Whitegate Drive is in a prime enough position to be allowed to remain open for business, which it does for the next forty-six years. The doors are closed for the final time on 25 September 2015, part of the policy of mass Branch closures adopted by all banks in the wake of new banking technologies. Some banks have realised that at least one generation of customers have been displaced by being forced to use the internet, and we are beginning to see the revival of the bank Branch, albeit on a smaller scale, with the opportunity for face to face interaction. “What goes around, comes around” has always been true of banking in the UK…