Maybe all this is too
much for Barclays, who close the branch in 1970, less than a year after the
merger. However, in more optimistic
times, the branch is heralded as another bold move for Martins Bank, and
colour images are taken of the interior to whet the appetite of the readers
of Martins Bank Magazine, who must surely wish that their own elderly North
of England branches might one day be quite so hip and trendy. |
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3092 |
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A further three things we know. Our branch is every bit as striking
outside as inside. Secondly, Mr. Harry Beeby is not in the least dismayed at
having fourteen branch banks in Watford the largest of which has more than
fifty on the staff. Thirdly, we actually
visited the branch thus convincing ourselves there is no jinx. Were
Mr. Beeby anything but a hard-headed son of the Manchester District he might
have suspected that the cancelled visits in the past four years were due to
supernatural causes, but early days at Waterfoot branch are not conducive to
flights of fancy and valuable experience over six years at Manchester
District Office on a variety of duties prior to becoming Clerk-in-Charge at
Moss Side in 1956 have given him an outlook and tenacity which enable him to
overcome the disappointments and frustrations of pioneering and to face
facts. |
Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection |
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Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection |
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3092 |
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Mr. I. T. Mather is yet another 'displaced person', his home being in Brighton where he entered the Bank in 1957. He has adapted himself quickly to his new surroundings and duties and from what we saw and heard at the counter we think he will soon have his own clientele among the customers—a good pointer to the future. The two most fortunate members of the staff, whose
homes are already close by and who therefore have no wish to join the London
rush hour battle, are the young ladies—Miss S. Randolfi who entered the Bank in January 1962 and
Miss J. M. Guy who joined the staff in February this year. As
we left for London we knew that our visit had delayed the work of these girls
but there was no hint of this in their farewell. By train or road one tends
to by-pass or go through Watford on the way to somewhere else. We are glad we
called there and we can assure anybody who takes the trouble to make a detour
that they will receive an equally warm welcome. |
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3092 |
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A fluid
situation arose at Watford F.C. on January 28 when heavy rain
soaked the pitch on the eve of their match with Manchester United in the Cup
replay. Eric Press, our manager at Watford and a football referee, was called
in by the Football Association to examine the ground and he decided to call
off the game. And the worried faces with Mr Press? Of course, Sir Matt Busby
and his assistant, Mr Murphy. |
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The following extracts are from
The Architect and Building News, 5 September 1962. Many such articles are
written about new branches of many high street banks at this time. What makes
this one historically valuable is that it includes a complete cost analysis
of the building and equipping of Martins Bank’s Watford Branch, and that when
these figures are calculated at today’s prices, we see the enormous costs of
setting up business in Watford – which is actually compared with London’s
Oxford Street in terms of congestion and expense(!) In a novel approach to building a Branch (for
the 2017 equivalent of more than £812,000), Martins Bank decided to share its
new building with a shop and an upstairs showroom, as well as a flat. With a tenant or two, the Bank can make the
building start to pay for itself. If you are wondering how the Bank itself is
accessed, all is revealed in the following article… |
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bank at
Watford Martins Bank Ltd., client. Bryan & Norman Westwood & Partners,
architects. Hugh Smart, associate partner. Leon & Westwood, quantity surveyors. Charles Brightman & Son Ltd., general
contractors Tender date: 11
February 1960 |
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The site in Watford High Street, one of the most congested suburban shopping centres comparable with, say, Kingston-on-Thames or even Oxford Street, London, was exceptionally expensive. The bank, therefore, decided that, if possible, the frontage should be let as a shop and the rear part of the site developed for the bank with an entrance which could readily be seen from the road. This has been achieved by exploiting a narrow lane at the side of the bank and obtaining permission to pave it over, thus forming a small courtyard off the main street. There appears to be no disadvantage in this; the pavement is so crowded at this point that this widening out is very welcome to customers. The materials used for the exterior are Hybroom silver-grey facing bricks with riven Westmorland slate fascia and polished slate on the wall lining of the entrance vestibule. The light- coloured panels on the main façade are precast slabs surfaced with rustic marble strip. The same material has been used to cover the free-standing columns. The gilt lettering was engraved by the sculptor, Eric Peskett. The windows are permanently finished in anodized black and satin silver aluminium. In designing the banking hall itself, the value of contrast in light and shade was exploited and materials gave interest at no great cost. The public space is comparatively dimly lit, with a black ceiling, slate floor and dark-coloured sculptural panels by Eric Peskett placed in echelon so that as you go into the bank the wall appears to be quite solid, but on leaving you see the street through the windows set between the slabs. The space over the counter and for the clerks behind is brilliantly lit from a laylight which also incorporates artificial lighting. |
sp3 |
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The dark colours of the public space give a quality of richness, and the writing tables on the sculptured wall are individually illuminated. Finishes were chosen which would give a comfortable, welcoming feel to the public space. The front of the counter is covered with Vyanide fabric, olive green in colour, with a padded backing, neatly edged in aluminium. The counter top is a solid piece of Afromosia. The floor is of riven Delabole slate. The sculptured slabs between the writing desks have in parts a very smooth shining surface obtained by casting against glass and the insets are rough and dark. They were cast in rubber moulds. The ceiling is roughly textured Pyrok, dark grey in colour and intensely sound-absorbing. Behind the main counter, the clerks’ desks and drawers are finished in black bean. The under bench fittings are movable and follow experience gained from planning laboratories. This brightly lighted area has on the back wall rich dark brown bean panel and black bean in random lengths. |
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Image © Barclays Ref 30-3092 |
Image © 2010 Google Street View® |
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Mr H Beeby Manager 1963 to 1966 |
Miss J M Guy On the staff 1963 |
Mr I T
Mather On the
staff 1963 |
Mr R H Catchpole On the staff 1963 |
Miss S Randolphi On the staff 1963 |
Mr E L J Press Manager 1966 onwards |
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BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED High Street Junction Parade North |
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LLOYDS BANK LIMITED Watford High Street Garston Park Parade |
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MARTINS BANK LIMITED High
Street |
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MIDLAND BANK LIMITED King
St – Exor & Trustee High
Street St
Albans Road |
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NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK High
Street |
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WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED High Street Cross Roads Junction North Leavesden Hospital |
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Title: Type: Address: Index
Number and District: Hours: Telephone: Services: Manager: |
Martins
Bank Limited 11-08-90 Watford Main Branch 36
High Street Watford Hertfordshire 478
London Mon to Fri
1000-1500 Saturday
0900-1130 Watford
29035 / 43910 Nightsafe
Installed E
L J Press Manager |
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1963 15
December 1969 30
October 1970 Currently |
Relocated
from Dudley’s Corner, Watford Barclays
Bank Limited 20-91-81 Watford 36 High Street Closed Hospice
Care Shop |
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