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Then comes a
sub-branch at the City’s Cattle Market in 1961, and another at Hucclecote
Trading Estate in 1965. You might well
ask why the Bank has gone to the trouble and expense of moving their main
branch from a site they have only occupied for twelve or so years, and to a
location that is only a few feet away?
The reason – and we think this is the first of its kind we have come
across – ensures the well designed
and shiny new premises you see here, above and below:
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Finishing touches – inside AND
out…
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Following a damning report
from the Bank’s inspectors, which criticise the existing premises at 9A SOUTHGATE
STREET as “unfit
for use as a bank”, Martins takes the decision to open new premises across
the road. We don’t have a record of what the inspectors thought of the NEW
building, (which as with many of Martins’ mid to late sixties builds, tends
to favour modernity above traditional style), but the day is saved with the
commission of a fine ceramic artwork depicting Gloucester cathedral, and
the following description of the Branch:
‘A SHOWPIECE OF MODERN BANKING ARCHITECTURE’
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 This description was given to our new Gloucester
branch premises when they opened last year.
The outstanding feature is the Isora Leaf-Lite ceiling, only
recently introduced into this country from America. Hundreds of pieces of metal, each about
six inches square, are suspended from the ceiling to diffuse the light from
above.
These colour images of the
banking hall have been kindly provided by the ceramics artist Philippa
Threlfall, whose imaginative interpretation of Gloucester Cathedral once
again shows Martins commitment to putting something back into the local
community. You can see more of the
items commissioned by Martins and made by Philippa on our CHELTENHAM and BRISTOL
CLIFTON pages.
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 Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections – Philippa Threlfall
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Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections – Philippa Threlfall
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The Isora Leaf-Lite™ Ceiling is noted as an
“outstanding feature”…
Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections
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Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections
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