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Many of Martins Bank’s larger city centre Branches are known to those who work there as “City Office”.  They offer the services of a Branch, but also they are, with the exception of Bristol City Office, housed in the same building as one of the Bank’s District Offices. 

Customers can therefore benefit from the local decision making powers of the District Office, and do their everyday banking, all in the same place.   Birmingham City Office is situated at 98 Colmore Row Bimingham, and like so many of Martins’ larger Branch buildings it is striking and imposing, giving the air of somewhere where business is done. 

Image © Martins Bank Archive  Collections Advertisement Remastered 2018

It is also a comparitive newcomer to Martins’ Branch Portfolio, having been opened in 1935.   An advertisement like the one shown here, is printed in local newspapers for a month or so before the opening of the Branch. 

 

In Service: 1 March 1935 until 15 September 1986

Image © Barclays

This image (above) from the Barclays Collection, has

been annotated to show expansion into neighbouring shops to

provide a new machine accounting room in 1968. (See also image below)

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The fact that it opens on a Friday shows the nature of new large city centre office – opening on the Friday and the Saturday Morning instead of for a whole first week, gives staff AND customers room to acclimatise and get used to the new building.  The Midlands is a strategic area for the southward expansion of the Bank, and to begin with, Midland District was described as soaking up all the English Branches that are “not wanted” by other districts”.  There were a few interesting overlaps between Midland and London District, which was Branches such as Oxford and Banbury changing district before the decentralised layout of the Bank settled down.  Birmingham is one of only a few City Office Branches to be visited by Martins Bank Magazine, and we join them here in 1960, for a good look at what goes on behind those imposing doors and windows…

 

1960 02 MBM.jpgIt is seldom that we visit a big office. The sense of isolation is less where a number of people work together, and it is easier to feel that one "belongs". As a rule, our visits are made to try to lessen this feeling of isolation. However, we made an exception to our practice on March 10th when we paid our first visit to Birmingham City Office, which with Midland District Office situated on the floor above makes a very sizeable focal point of our business in the Midlands. Because of town planning we shall have to vacate our premises at 98, Colmore Row in the course of the next few years and it will be quite a problem to find as good a spot as the one from which we at present operate, which is scheduled for an open space. The plan also involves disturbance of our Markets and Broad Street Branches, altogether quite an upheaval. Out of evil may come good, however,  for the present premises are in some respects inadequate for our growing business. Catering facilities at present provide a midday meal for the staff not only at Colmore Row but also for the neighbouring Branches and a nice rest room for the ladies has just been added. Mr. A. E. Teasdale has already figured in these pages as Manager when we visited Northampton Branch some years ago. He has come a long way since those far off days of his early service at Darlington, Newcastle upon Tyne and Hanley.

1950 ish Birmingham City Office Interior 2 BGA Ref 30-210.jpg

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-0210

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Mr. J. L. S. Woosnam is another old friend who spent his earlier years at Liverpool City Office, Ellesmere Port, Charing Cross, South John Street and Inspection Department before going to the Midlands in 1951. His appointment as Assistant Manager dates from 1958. Mr. Woosnam married Miss Audrey Weston, who was formerly in Chief Accountant's Department. Mr. C. Wilson, who signs Pro Manager, is another Liverpool man who spent his early years at Old Swan, going to the Midlands at Wednesbury in 1951.  The first cashier, Mr. J. Higginbotham, is a Manchester man who has reached his present position via Whalley Range, New Mills, Heaton Chapel, Manchester City Office, Macclesfield, Cardiff, Bristol and Nottingham - quite a run around.  We met Mr. G. E. Hasler on one of the Domestic Training Courses and Mr. W. E. Clowes on an Overseas Training Course, both at Head Office. Mr. M. J. Cadd has also been on an Overseas course but he is known to us as a participant in the Festival of Cricket, so we already knew all the male members of the staff apart from Mr. R. A. Franklin who entered the service in 1955 and Mr. R. R. Stait, the junior, who started last year.

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1960 City Office Staff MBM-Su60P36.jpgThe ladies are well represented on the Birmingham staff. Mrs. P. Needham, who formerly worked for another bank, finds it more convenient to work for us as her husband is on the staff of District Office upstairs! Miss B. M. Smith is Mr. Teasdale's typist and there are two girl cashiers—Mrs. B. J. West and Miss S. Aldridge, who do, however, perform other duties. Then we have Miss M. G. Merriman, Birmingham born and bred, Miss S. Bargh, who has perforce exchanged Bournemouth for Birmingham, and Miss A. M. Ford. We did not have the pleasure of meeting Miss P. M. Allen and Miss J. M. Stevens who were away through illness on the day of our visit. The photograph was taken subsequent to our visit, and two or three members of the staff who appear on it we did not have the pleasure of meeting. Others whom we met were not available when the photograph was taken. Although we were not visiting District Office officially, we called to renew acquaintance with the staff there, most of whom are very well known to us. It was a crowded visit, full of interest and pleasure in meeting so many old friends.

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We’re in the money…

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1962 Ł55,000 Pools Winning Syndicate collect winnings MBM-Sp62P42.jpg1962 01 MBM.jpgNo other Branch, so far as we are aware, can claim the distinction of being besieged at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning by a crowd of people, numbering 67, 35 of whom wanted to open accounts, and all of whom wanted a substantial amount of cash.  Our photograph shows a recent Pools winner to the tune of Ł55,000 at the counter of Birmingham City Office. Accompanying him were the other 66 members of his syndicate, each of whom wanted a cheque for some Ł800. He came by appointment to sign his cheque, but the appearance of the members of his syndicate took the Bank by surprise and most of the staff had to be set to the task of making out the cheques. Then followed the cash transactions and finally the formalities connected with the opening of the accounts. Although the party were obviously in high spirits, bound for refreshment and then the football match, they were most considerate of the other customers wanting service.

Ever keen with his finger on the photographic pulse is Keith Mason, whose modern shots of former Martins Branches now feature extensively throughout our online Archive.  Here we can compare the 98 Colmore Row of today, with its previous life as Martins Bank…

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

Image © Keith Mason June 2015

1935 to 1946 Mr George Ball Manager MBM-Wi46P19.jpg

1936 to 1936 Mr N S Wickstead joined the bank here MBM-Su64P04.jpg

1936 to 1940 joined then 1946 to 1951 Mr K R Chance MBM-Sp65P08.jpg

1936 to 1949 Mr Edgar Conning MBM-Su60P53.jpg

1938 to 1944 Mr H A Smith Assistant Manager MBM-Wi61P53.jpg

1940 Mr PH Mellor MBM-Au66P04.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr George Ball

First Manager

1935 to 1946

Mr N S Wickstead

Joined the Bank Here

1936 to 1936

Mr K R Chance

Joined Here 1936-40

On the Staff 1946-51

Mr Edgar Conning

On the Staff

1936 to 1949

Mr H A Smith

Assistant Manager

1938 to 1944

Mr P H Mellor

On the Staff

1940

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1944 to 1946 Mr A Hill MBM-Wi65P05.jpg

1948 to 1953 Mr D E Lewis joined the bank here MBM-Wi65P04.jpg

1948 to 1958 Mr R H C Ellam Assistant Manager MBM-Su58P56.jpg

1952 to 1956 Mr J C Wood Manager MBM-Au56P49.jpg

1952 to 1968 Mr J Higginbotham Chief Cashier MBM-Su68P52.jpg

1958 to 1963 Mr A E Teasdale Manager MBM-Wi63P58.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr A Hill

On the Staff

1944 to 1946

Mr D E Lewis

Joined the Bank Here

1948 to 1953

Mr R H C Ellam

Assistant Manager

1948 to 1958

Mr J C Wood

Manager

1952 to 1956

Mr J Higginbotham

Chief Cashier

1952 to 1968

Mr A E Teasdale

Manager

1958 to 1963

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1958 to 1966 Mr J L S Woosman Assistant Manager MBM-Au66P51.jpg

1960 Mr R R Stait MBM-Su60P37.jpg 

1960 Mr WE Clowes MBM-Su67P02.jpg

1960 Mr R A Franklin MBM-Au69P10.jpg

1960 Mr C Wilson Pro Manager MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss B M Smith MBM-Su60P37.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr J L S Woosnam

Assistant Manager

1958 to 1966

Mr R R Stait

Joined the Bank Here

1959

Mr W E Clowes

On the Staff

1960

Mr R A Franklin

On the Staff

1960

Mr C Wilson

Pro Manager

1960

Miss B M Smith

On the Staff

1960

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1960 Mr E A Sansome MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss S Bargh MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Mr G E Hasler MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss B West MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Mr G S Bolland MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss C C Vincent MBM-Su60P37.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr E A Sansome

On the Staff

1960

Miss S Bargh

On the Staff

1960

Mr G E Hasler

On the Staff

1960

Miss B West

On the Staff

1960

Mr G S Bolland

On the Staff

1960

Miss C C Vincent

On the Staff

1960

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1960 Mr K Martin MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss J C Stonehouse MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss A M Ford MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss J M Stevens MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss P M Allen MBM-Su60P37.jpg

1960 Miss S Aldridge MBM-Su60P37.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr K Martin

On the Staff

1960

Miss J C Stonehouse

On the Staff

1960

Miss A M Ford

On the Staff

1960

Miss J M Stevens

On the Staff

1960

Miss P M Allen

On the Staff

1960

Miss S Adridge

On the Staff

1960

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1964 Miss W Roberts Cashier MBM-Au64P45.jpg

1966 Mr MD Ellison Assistant Manager City Office MBM-Au66P05.jpg

1968 Mr I S Grant Assistant Manager MBM-Sp68P03.jpg

1968 Mr R N Weightman Manager MBM-Su68P23.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Miss W Roberts

Cashier

1964

Mr M D Ellison

Assistant Manager

1966

Mr I S Grant

Assistant Manager

1968

Mr R N Weightman

Manager

1968 onwards

 

 

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Title:

Type:

Address:

Index Number and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

11-76-00 Birmingham City Office

Full Branch

98 Colmore Row Birmingham

584 Midland

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

021 236 9867

Nightsafe Installed

Mr R M Weightman Manager

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Buxton

1 March 1935

15 December 1969

15 September 1986

Opened by Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-07-72 Birmingham 98 Colmore Row

Closed

Birmingham Digbeth

 

 

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