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If Sea Houses Branch
were a car, someone would surely have written “clean me” in the grime by
now! In one of the most beautiful
parts of England, Sea Houses sits on the coast of Northumberland, looking
North across the sea to the Farne Islands, home to seal colonies and sea
birds, an area of outstanding natural beauty.
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In Service: September 1876 until
present day – still open as Barclays
Image © Barclays Ref:
0030-2577
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In September 1876, the
North Eastern Banking Company opens a branch at Sea Houses, which along
with a sub-Branch at Bamburgh is inherited by the Bank of Liverpool in
1914, and progresses to the ownership of Martins Bank in 1928. This image
from the 1930s shows Sea Houses branch under a considerable amount of
grime. In the twenty-first century
however, the building is much cleaner and still home to Barclays. In February 1963
Martins Bank’s Sea Houses Manager Mr Swanson is about to retire early
through ill-health. Note that by this time he has already served forty
years – these really are the days of the job for life! and in the
feature below, note also the retirement gift his colleagues have clubbed
together to buy for him.
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Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections
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The genuine wishes of good health
that come with this gift seem incongruous in our health aware twenty-first
century. What an illustration of
just how much times have changed…
  At
the end of February Mr. J. Swanson (Manager, Sea Houses) retired
prematurely on the grounds of ill health. Prior to his retirement Mr. Swanson was entertained to
lunch in Newcastle by Mr. W. Weatherill (North Eastern District General
Manager) who was also present at a cocktail party given by Mr. Swanson at
his home to past and present members of the Sea Houses staff. In making the
presentation of an inscribed silver cigarette box on behalf of subscribers,
Mr. J. C. Henderson, the second-in-command, expressed regret at Mr.
Swanson's early retirement and added the hope that once relieved of
business cares his health would speedily improve. After Mr. Swanson had suitably replied, Miss Hope
presented a bouquet to Mrs. Swanson. Entering
the service of the Bank in 1923 at Amble, Mr. Swanson subsequently served
at Newbiggin and Rothbury before his appointment as Manager at Sea Houses
in 1951. He spent the years 1941-46 in H.M. Forces.
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