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The story of Martins Bank’s fifty year long connection with
Bournemouth begins in 1925, when the town is still in the county of
Hampshire, and the Bank of Liverpool and Martins opens a new Branch at
128/130 Christchurch Old Road. In 1934
the Branch relocates to 49 Old Christchurch Road, and it is this
office that survives the 1969 merger with Barclays and lasts until until
1975.
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In Service: 25 February
1925 until 10 March 1934
Image © Martins Bank
Archive Collections
Extract from the Annual
Report and Accounts of the Bank of Liverpool
and Martins Limited 1925
© Barclays
Image © Barclays 1934
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 Some newly discovered papers shows the Bank’s
attempts to make the new Branch pay for itself through the installation of
tenants in the upstairs rooms. Various companies and individuals are invited,
and the plan is, the longer the rental period, the better the income for the
Bank. The letters and documents, which
are written between interested parties and either Bournemouth Branch, London
68 Lombard Street Branch, or the Bank’s Bournemouth Solicitor, also give us
the best information currently to hand about the date of closure of 128/130
Old Christchurch Road – most probably Saturday 10th March 1934, with the new
branch opening on Monday 12th March.
 Amongst various Bournemouth businesses invited to
make an offer on the shiny new offices are: - The Ocean Accident and Gurantee
Corporation of Southampton, who are not interested now but might be in the
future, Messrs J B Le Page & Co Limited, (Merchants, Factors, Shipping
Agents and Wharfingers), who take Room 11 on the third floor, Wm Hector
Mackenzie, Civil Engineer who “couldn’t find anything suitable” amongst the
rooms being let, and similarly, Mr A F French, Chiropodist writes to the
Bank’s solicitors, Messrs Hankinson & Co to say that after inspecting the
property, he too finds it unsuitable! It
is not an easy task then, to let out rooms in Bournemouth in 1934, but
interesting to note, that for the successful letting of Room 11 to Messrs Le
Page, the solicitor receives a commission from the Bank of £2. 5/-
(£2.25). Further correspondence
reveals that there is a tenant referred to only as Mr Child, who is paying a
rent of £30p.a.
Martins Bank’s Inspection Department at 68 Lombard Street is
keen that the solicitor persuades prospective tenants to offer at least the
same amount for similarly sized rooms, just in case Mr Child should get wind
of someone paying less, and take legal action against the Bank! (And they say we have a litigation culture
today as if it is something new!) It
is pleasing to note that JB Le Page’s Letterhead includes details of their
bankers, none other than Martins Bank Limited, Bournemouth.
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