11-95-81 Wallsend The Forum

Martins Bank opens up shop in the Spring of 1969 at “The Forum” - Wallsend’s newest shopping experience, and this instantly provides a brand new Branch for Barclays to inherit just a few short months later. The location is must be a good one as the Branch stays open until 2022.

1960 s Wallsend Exterior 13 CU Sign BGA Ref 30-3044

In Service: Spring 1969 until 16 November 2022

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-3044

Fortunately, a record of Martins’ brief time in this building has been kept by the re-mastered Advertisement below, and by these wonderful branch images from the Barclays collection, capturing Martins Bank at perhaps its most modern. The original WALLSEND Branch of the Bank opens at 1 High Street West in 1901, and closes when the new Branch opens at The Forum. Wallsend also has a sub-Branch, which was originally based at the WALKER MECHANICS INSTITUTE, but following a fire in 1965 the business is relocated to temporary premises at WALKER BOYS’ CLUB, and closed altogether by the time of the merger with Barclays.