Sep 1.jpg

HOME

 

WELCOME

 

NEWS

 

BRANCHES

 

GRASSHOPPERS

 

LEWIS’S BANK

 

CONTACT US

 

SITE MENU

 

A picture containing text, outdoor

Description automatically generated

This is Jinsy Guernsey…

Martins Bank establishes its first Branch in the Channel islands in 1951 at St Helier, Jersey.  Guernsey follows in 1955 with this very striking corner building.  Although it is no longer a bank, it does make an equally striking public house in the Twenty-First Century. 

Two further Branches are opened on Jersey, but St Peter Port remains Martins’ only office on Guernsey.  For a feature in its Autumn 1966 Issue, Martins Bank Magazine visits the Channel Islands and provides us with this rather brief glimpse into the life of Martins Bank’s  Guernsey Branch, and its staff at that time…

Sep 1.jpg

Text

Description automatically generated

St Peter Port in Guernsey has provided us with a most attractive site, brightened by window boxes, photo­graphed frequently and praised periodically in the local press for the retention of its stately appearance and character even after extension.  Inside too, it earns full marks for brightness, cleanliness and space.

In Service: January 1955 until December 1985

 

1960 s Guernsey Exterior BGA Ref 33-247

Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0033/0247

While wishing to avoid a travelogue it is fair to say that in a tour of this curb-flattened, narrow-laned island where the fir cones, the ants and even the more modest cigarettes are king-size, one sees more glasshouses to the square mile than seem possible or necessary.

Sep 1.jpg

Yet these acres of glass give a clue to the island's main industry —the growing and export of tomatoes which bring in £5 million a year. Running neck and neck at about £3 million are flower exports and tourism.  Guernsey branch does not enjoy a slack period, as one might hope or expect, for when the visitors have gone the hoteliers and growers begin repairs and renewals in readiness for next year's harvest, and the business of the branch reverts to banking as distinct from the counter and currency transactions which at the time of our call had brought thirty French school children in to exchange their francs. Guernsey, being – like Jersey – an island state with its own government, laws, police, hospitals and schools, is a tightly knit, well run and industrious community and our branch therefore fits no particular heading because it deals with everything – boat hirers, manu­facturers, farmers, shopkeepers. You name it, they've got it. 

Sep 1.jpg

 

 

 

A branch such as this requires something more than a banking boffin to run it which explains its success under that happy extrovert Mr Ernest Yates who opened the office twelve years ago. Most unfortunately he was ill when we called but his many friends will be glad to know that reports on his health are encouraging.  With Norman Deane, ably holding the fort after ten years' experience of Guernsey banking, we found a staff comprising an Englishman, a Guernseyman, two Guernsey girls, a married one from Jersey and a retired returnee Roly Thompson a North-Easterner formerly with the London District. From them we learnt much about the commonsense system of non-party govern­ment and of the rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey.

 

Guernsey to someone from Jersey is an impoverished little island of pink granite, devoid of scenery or charm.  To the people of Guernsey its rival is a squalid, money-seeking, commercialised slab of rock. Since neither island bothers to criticise Herm, Alderney or Sark it is safe to assume that the attitude is typically insular and not to be over-stressed. In the branch it shows in good natured leg-pulling and when we met it outside we had to remind ourselves that no true son of Lancashire or Yorkshire speaks well of those primitives the other side of the Pennines. But the islanders themselves – rather like our Bank – go to extremes to be helpful and where in England would one find a taxidriver volunteering to do the incidental shopping for a lady passenger? Guernsey’s glasshouses are really necessary for the island slopes downwards to the north unlike its rival 25 miles away, which is blessed with a southern slope. In Jersey we spent sufficient time touring to realise that both islands have a few black but many beauty spots.

1957 to 1967 Mr N Deane MBM-Au67P08.jpg

1966 Miss A M Brimage MBM-Au66P26.jpg

1966 Miss M J LeCornu MBM-Au66P26.jpg

1966 Mr E H C Yates Manager MBM-Au66P26.jpg

1966 Mr M J Stonebridge MBM-Au66P26.jpg

1966 Mr N L Parnwell MBM-Au66P26.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr N Deane

On the Staff

1957 to 1967

Miss A M Brimage

On the Staff

1966

Miss M J LeCornu

On the Staff

1966

Mr E H C Yates

Manager

1966

Mr M J Stonebridge

On the Staff

1966

Mr N L Parnwell

On the Staff

1966

Sep 1.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

1966 Mrs A Langlois MBM-Au66P26.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Miss A Langois

On the Staff

1966

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 1.jpg

 

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

2 Branches

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

4 Branches

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK

2 Branches

WESTMINSTER BANK

4 Branches + Executor & Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WILLIAMS DEACON’S BANK

 

 

 

 

 

Sep 1.jpg

 

HILL SAMUEL

KLEINWORT BENSON

 

Title:

Type:

Address:

Index Number and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

Martins Bank Limited 11-18-40 Guernsey

Main Branch

1 Fountain Street St Peter Port Guernsey

471 London

Mon-Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

Guernsey 22621

Nightsafe Installed

E H C Yates Manager

 

 

Croydon

January 1955

15 December 1969

December 1985

Opened by Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-35-31 Guernsey St Peter Port

Closed

Jersey St Brelade

 

M

Sep 1.jpg