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Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank

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A Branch at Warrington comes into the ownership of Martins Bank, through the amalgamation of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1928. These small but impressive premises are opened by the Lancashire and Yorkshire in 1874, and remain open as a bank for sixty-four years until 1937 when Martins Bank moves to 78 BRIDGE STREET. These are the days before governments have had the chance to interfere with county boundaries, and Warrington has not yet been made to hop across the border from Lancashire into Cheshire.

Our branch photograph comes from a 1922 L and Y Bank publication, and the above extract from Kelly’s Directory of Lancashire (1905), confirms the address of the Branch. Until the move to Bridge Street, Warrington is listed in the telephone directory simply as “L&Y Branch”, with no other address details.

Our thanks to Barclays Group Archives for looking on our behalf into Martins Bank’s premises register, which reveals that the Branch at 34/36 Horsemarket Street is acquired by Warrington Corporation for the purposes of street widening. Martins Bank’s new Branch is erected by the bank on the corner of Bridge Street and Rylands Street, and is opened for business on Monday 31 May 1937.

In Service: December 1874 until Saturday 29 May 1937

 

Image © 1922 Martins Bank Archive Collections: The W N Townson Bequest

 

Image © 1925 Martins Bank Archive

Collection – Alan Jones

 

 

This cheque, issued in 1925 was drawn by the paternal grandfather of Alan Jones, and Alan has donated the cheque to the Archive. The cheque is payable to his younger brother Brian, who is actually only a couple of months when the cheque is written! It is good to see the habit of saving being instilled into one so young, even if he wasn’t aware of it at the time!

Now to this wonderful image of the interior of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, Warrington Horsemarket Street, as it looked in September 1906.  The inset image is of the incumbent Manager, Mr Fred William Gilbert, who strikes a dapper but serious pose! The photograph comes from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank Club Magazine, a staff publication which here pre-dates the first issue of Martins Bank Magazine by FORTY years! Looking through the pages of the L & Y Club Magazine, it is clear that Martins Bank’s own staff publication owes much to this pioneering publication, in terms both of content and layout. It is wonderful to have such a complete piece of history - which is more than 100 years old - in our collection.

 

Image © 1906 Martins Bank Archive Collections – Alan Jones

 

The Magazine also prints a description of the Branch and provides details of the career of Mr Gilbert, who is described as “popular”…

As a frontispiece to the present number of the Magazine we have pleasure in reproducing a view of the interior of the Bank's new office at Warrington, inset with a medallion photograph of Mr. F. W. Gilbert, the popular Manager of the Branch. Opened in 1874, Warrington is one of the oldest branches, and the present handsome edifice has been erected on the site of the old premises, which were demolished last year. The new building is a fine example of Renaissance architecture, and has an imposing appearance, the first storey being of polished dark red granite and the second of Portland stone. The walls of the banking chamber (which is at the rear of the building, the manager's room being to the front) are panelled seven feet high with polished Spanish mahogany. Our photograph was taken from the vestibule at the entrance to the Bank, and affords a good idea of the general appearance and design of the office, which is well lighted from the arched roof. The floor in front of the counter is laid with black and white marble squares. The new office was formally opened a few weeks ago by Colonel Walker, the Deputy-Chairman of the Bank. The business was carried on in temporary premises during rebuilding operations. Mr. Gilbert, who is well known and respected in Warrington, has held the position of Manager there for nearly twenty years, his appointment dating from 2nd November, 1886. Born at Nantwich, he entered the service of the Bank in 1873, and for thirteen years occupied various posts in the Head Office—in those days No. 73, King Street.

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Image not held

Mr Fred William Gilbert

Manager

Pre 1905 to 1922

Mr A Fitton

Manager

1922 to ca.1933

Mr Stanley C Owen

Joined the Bank here

1909

Mr R M Teare

Joined the Bank Here

1924

Mr J L Shenton

Joined the Bank Here

1927 to 1938

Mr H M Nield

Manager

1936 to 1947

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Title:

Type:

Address:

Index No and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

11-863 Warrington

Main Branch

34 and 36 Horsemarket Street Warrington Lancashire

96 Liverpool

Mon to Fri 1000-1500 

Saturday 0930-1100

Warrington 589

Nightsafe Installed

Mr H M Neild Manager

 

 

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Warkworth

December 1874

3 January 1928

Saturday 29 May 1937

Opened by Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank

Martins Bank Limited

Closed and business moved to 78 Bridge Street

Warrington Bridge Street

 

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