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Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection
Advertisement Re-mastered from original copy 2019
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In Service: 1901 to 1965
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(above) © Barclays Ref 0030-3037
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(below right) © BT 1964
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 It is drab in every sense – what else can we say? – yet Martins Bank’s
sub-Branch at Walker has been there for Years - ever since the Bank inherited
it from the North Eastern Banking Co Ltd, in 1914. As a sub-Branch to Wallsend, Walker opens three mornings each week. Both Wallsend and Walker are opened by the North Eastern Bank in
1901. During the Second World War
Walker is mothballed, as there are not enough staff to run the Bank’s
smallest sub branches. The story does
not end happily either, as sadly, Walker is gutted by fire in May 1964 and
the business moves to a temporary room at WALKER BOYS’ CLUB , Wharrier Street until being closed down just
before the merger with Barclays in 1969.
Even in 1965, this is a depressed area in which it is difficult enough
to LIVE let alone trade. Nevertheless, the Bank fulfills its long-standing
commitment to Walker, and maintains a service that is far from satisfactory,
until 1969. Thanks to the personal memories of someone who was there, you can
read much more about this and about the difficulties of operating a service
at Walker Boys Club, by clicking on the red link above. If you have your own memories of using or
working at this rather unusual sub branch, please get in touch at martinsbankarchive@btinternet.com.
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