Another fine example of a bank building from the days of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank stands at 12-14 Darwen Street in Blackburn. In the twenty-first century our branch still plays host to Barclays, although a not so eye-catching extension built to the right of this view of the building is where much of today’s business is transacted. What you see here as the main doorway is now filled by partitioning and a cash machine which takes the place of Martins’ smiling messenger staff greeting the customer. At the time of this image, (from the W N Townson Bequest), our Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank manager at Blackburn is Mr F W Shawcross, and he is also responsible for two sub-branches at Copy Nook in Eanam, and New Chapel Street Mill Hill. In the 1960s our Eanam office is run as a full branch with its own management. There have also been two further sub branches to Blackburn, one at Cherry Tree, the other at Novas (an area of Blackburn known as Nova Scotia) both of which are closed in 1941 for the Second World War, but not re-opened. Our association with Blackburn dates back more than 100 years to around 1876 and also includes the Mercantile Bank of Lancashire whose branch in the town becomes one of many we inherit. It is good to know that whilst the traditional industries that helped to grow the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank are no longer there, business has still been good enough to keep a number of our Blackburn branches thriving well into the twenty-first century. Our Blackburn features cover the retiements of two members of staff, both of whom are given similar leaving gifts…
Radio 1…
At the end of April Mr. A. Spencer, Manager at Blackburn since 1950, retired, and the occasion was marked by a gathering of colleagues on the active and retired staff to witness the presentation on behalf of the subscribers of a car radio. Mr. Spencer had obligingly parked his car at the side entrance to the Bank and turned on the set so that all might satisfy themselves that their gift was in good working order. The usual crowd gathered to see what was going on and this gave added importance to the occasion. Afterwards, Mr. Spencer entertained his staff and friends to tea in the office. Mr. Harold Blundell conveyed the good wishes of everyone and apologised for the absence of Mr. Tonge. He then recounted several humorous anecdotes of his association with Mr. Spencer and finally asked him to convey to Mrs. Spencer the good wishes of all present. The gathering included Mr. H. S. Mellor, Manchester District Inspector, and the Managers at Darwen, Queen's Park, Great Harwood, Bacup, Eanam, and representatives from Manchester City Office, District Office, Accrington and Cheetham, and two retired colleagues. Mr. Spencer entered the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1912 and became Pro Manager at Elton, Bury, in 1934. He was appointed Manager at Great Harwood in 1941 and at Blackburn nine years later.
Radio 2…
some forty colleagues, past and present, including Mr W. P. Glover, gathered in the Castle Hotel, Blackburn, on March 14 to wish Mr Holme a happy retirement. Mr Richards (Manager) welcomed Mrs Holme, her daughter and daughter-in-law, and spoke of the great affection felt for Mr Holme who was always cheerful, full of good humour and a pleasure to have in the office. His many interests as a parish councillor, church organist and school governor would keep him extremely busy in retirement. Expressing the good wishes of all, Mr Richards gave him a transistor radio and Miss Susan Williams presented Mrs Holme with a bouquet. In response, Mr Holme thanked everyone and spoke amusingly about his life in the Bank from his first branch, Shudehill, on to Eanam and finally Blackburn, where he had spent most of his extremely happy career. He concluded by thanking Mr Richards in particular and invited everyone to partake of the buffet tea which was magnificent.
Mr A T Love Joined here 1906 Pro Manager 1950	Mr H M Neild Joined the Bank Here 1913		Mr F Cowell Joined Here 1919 Accountant 1947 to 1950	Mr R P Hargraves Joined the Bank Here 1922
Mr R C Sharples On the Staff 1923 to 1935	Mr R Crossley Joined the Bank Here 1924		Mr H Slater Joined the Bank Here 1926 to 1937	Mr F Haslam Manager 1932 to 1933
Mr S A Buxton First Cashier 1934 to 1945	Mr H Wilkinson Manager 1935 to 1947		Miss I M Scotts On the Staff 1936 to 1969	Mr W T Coupe On the Staff 1941 to 1941
Mr A Spencer Manager 1950 to 1956	Mr I A Bremner Pro Manager 1952 to 1957		Mr L Richards Manager 1956 to 1968	Mr R S Hilton On Staff 1960 to 1963 Deputy Manager 1969
Mr W F S Richmond Pro Manager 1961 to 1963	Miss P Holt Cashier 1963		Mr P Houldsworth Pro Manager 1963 to 1968	Mr K O Walmsley Deputy Manager 1965
Mr K A Holme Retiring Staff 1968	Mr J W Twissell Pro Manager 1968		Mr T McLeod Manager 1968 onwards
Title:		11-81-00 Blackburn
Type:		Full Branch
Address:		12/14 Darwen St Blackburn Lancashire
Hours:		Mon to Fri 1000-1500
		Saturday 0900-1130
Telephone:		Blackburn 53876/8
Services:		Nightsafe installed
Manager:		Mr T McLeod Manager
Title:		11-093 BLACKBURN CHERRY TREE Closed 1941
Type:		Sub to 11-093 Blackburn
Address:		344 Preston Old Road Cherry Tree Blackburn Lancashire
Hours:		Not known
Telephone:		Pleasington 152
Services:		Counter Service Only
Manager:		Mr A T Love (Blackburn) 1933-1941
Title:		11-81-00 BLACKBURN MILL HILL
Type:		Sub to 11-81-00 Blackburn
Address:		5 New Chapel Street Mill Hill Blackburn Lancashire
Hours:		Mon to Fri 1000-1300
		Saturday 0930-1100
Telephone:		Blackburn 51070
Services:		Restricted
Manager:		Mr T McLeod Manager (Blackburn)
Title:		11-093 BLACKBURN NOVAS Closed 1941
Type:		Sub to 11-093 Blackburn
Address:		173 Bolton Road Nova Scotia Blackburn Lancashire
Hours:		Not known
Telephone:		No Telephone
Services:		Counter Service Only
Manager:		Mr A T Love (Blackburn) 1933-1941
© gut informiert 2007 to date