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 “This watercolour impression of Martins
Bank’s proposed new branch at Bedford Street Exeter was commissioned in the
late 1940s, whilst Staff were still occupying temporary premises in Queen
Street. This followed the complete destruction of the original branch on 23
April 1942 during the famous Baedecker Air Raid”…
 The story of Martins
Bank’s branches in Exeter has so far involved the bombing of the original
branch at 5 Bedford Street, and the staff making do in small and
uncomfortable premises for nearly nine years.
The waiting is finally over, and in 1951 the Bank moves into its brand
new branch. The architect commissioned to design the new branch of Martins
Bank Exeter paints this detailed watercolour picture in 1950. In line with
much post-war construction, it will be a bright, modern replacement for the
original branch. A site is chosen opposite that of the original, and it will
be known as number 6 Bedford Street.
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In Service: 1951 until November
1982
Image – Martins Bank Archive Collections
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In the twenty-first century, the new building
is no longer a bank, but a reminder of its’ days as Martins Bank is still
there in the form of Martins Bank’s COAT
OF ARMS which today can still be seen
above the door. For our feature, we go back to March 1960 and the retirement
of Exeter Manager Mr Tom Collinge, who sadly has been away from work with
severe health problems for some time.
Mr Collinge is such a well-loved character, that Martins Bank Magazine
pays him special tribute in their write-up of his career…
  One of the most colourful and entertaining characters
in the Bank retired at the end of March, unfortunately owing to ill-health,
and it was some months before his decision to retire that the illness
overtook Mr Collinge which prevented his return to work. We have many happy memories of Tom Collinge. He had a great sense of humour and he was
an excellent raconteur, while a speech from him could be guaranteed to have
an original flavour about it which was an entertainment in itself. He liked the good things of life, and the
last letter we received from him in response to our request for the
accompanying photograph was so typical of him that it implied by its robust
tenor that he is winning the battle back to health. “If the only way you can boost your circulation
is by publishing photographs of the Ancient Britons, well, I say publish and
be damned”. Mr Collinge joined the
staff of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1926 and serves for varying
periods at Bury, Whitefiled, Heywood, Oldham, Haslingden and Waterfoot before
his translation to Exeter in 1930. He
served with H M Forces from 1942 to 1945 and was appointed Manager at Exeter
shortly after his return. We send him
every good wish for a speedy return to good health.
 The
rebuilding of Exeter City Centre sees a new Branch of Martins rise from the
ashes of World War Two by 1951. As we
have already seen, a handsome watercolour is commissioned to show off what is
a modern but sympathetic design. The new building seems to have stood the
test of time in its first sixty-six years, and the Martins Bank Coat of Arms
above the door now lends a certain authority to the luxury jewellery business
currently at home within the walls of 6 Bedford Street. Our thanks to Kate Snowden for braving an
extremely busy city centre, and an Army recruitment campaign, to obtain a
contemporary image for us…
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