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The Bank of Liverpool and Martins opens its branch at Blyth in 1924,
adding to Martins Bank’s strong presence on the North East Coast. By 1969,
having taken over many branches in the North East, Barclays has to make some
tough decisions, and many of them face the axe within a short time of the
merger.
The photograph does not
give much away about the fate of the three large upstairs windows, apart from
the fact that they appear to have been bricked up many years before the image
was taken.
Blyth survives for just a few months, closing altogether in July
1970. The branch is visited by Martins Bank magazine in 1965 as
part of its “As and Bs in Northumberland” feature. Very little information is
printed about each branch, so that doesn’t leave much for us to show you
about Blyth.
However, the staff of the
Magazine seems to have been greeted with enthusiasm by those at each branch
visited, where all dutifully pose for a group shot. After our lightning trip to
Blyth, we drop in on the retirement celebration of Mr J Cranson Potts,
Manager of the branch for eleven years, described as being strong in
character, and who we find in an apparent “reminiscent mood” for his earlier
banking days in Middlesbrough…
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In Service
1924 until 10 July 1970
Branch Images ©
Barclays Ref 0030-0302
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  In
the seventeenth century, coal at Blyth was hauled in horse-drawn trains along
wooden rails from Bebside Colliery to the river for shipment. Today much bigger shipments of coal
continue, particularly for power stations in the south, and coal with
ship-building, repairing and breaking, still provides most of Blyth’s
livelihood though an industrial estate nearby offers much needed
diversification. From Mr Burnett, our Manager, we obtained a handbook which
confirmed the close proximity of a three-mile beach, something which few such
towns can boast.
 On the
occasion of the retirement of Mr. J. C. Potts after over 44 years' service,
he and Mrs. Potts entertained a party of his colleagues, past and present, to
tea and cocktails at the Barrakka Hotel, Blyth. During the evening Mr. D. E. Lowery presented Mr. Potts
with a tape recorder on behalf of the subscribers, and Miss 1. Daley
presented Mrs. Potts with a bouquet. In the
unavoidable absence of the District General Manager, thanks to Mr. Potts for
his loyal and faithful service were expressed by Mr. W. S. Blaylock.
 In
his reply, Mr. Potts was in reminiscent mood and spoke amusingly of the old
days at Middlesbrough. Behind this bare recital
of facts lies the story of a man of strong character who was prepared to
fight and suffer for his principles. Some of us from other Districts had the
pleasure of meeting him and his wife on the occasion of last year's holiday
party to Interlaken, and were instantly impressed by his rugged character and
broad humanity. A first-class tennis player still and a talented amateur
actor, he will find much to occupy his leisure time happily, and, as a matter
of fact, he has a principal part as Dvorak in 'Summer Song' which the Whitley
Bay Operatic Society are performing in April. The Bank is poorer by the loss
of these strong individualists. Cranson
Potts entered the Bank in 1916 and in the course of his career served at
Belford, Blackhill, Easington Colliery, Middlesbrough, Northumberland Street,
North Shields, Ashington, on Relief and on the North Eastern D.G.M. staff. He
was appointed Manager at Blyth in 1949.
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