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Bank of Liverpool

When its doors first are first opened on 18 October 1914, Birkenhead Claughton Village Branch is one of the last offices of the Bank of Liverpool to be established before the creation of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins.  Sadly, this Branch does not survive quite long enough to be able to celebrate its one hundredth birthday, as it is closed by Barclays on 26 July 2013.  For our feature, we go back to October 1959, and the retirement of one of Martins Bank’s long serving Managers, Mr Wall-Jones.  He has actually worked at Claughton Village twice, the second time as Manager of the Branch for around twenty-one of his forty-three year career…

In service: 18 October 1914 – 26 July 2013

1960 s Birkenhead Claughton Village Exterior BGA Ref 30-196 

 

Monochrome Branch Images © Barclays Ref: 0030-0196

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1959 04 MBM.jpg1937 to 1959 Mr A Wall Jones Manager MBM-Wi59P55.jpgAt the end of October Mr. A. Wall Jones, Manager at Claughton Village since 1937, retired after 43 years' service. To mark the occasion a little ceremony was held, during the course of which Mr. J. H. Pickering, Staff Manager, made a presenta­tion on behalf of the subscribers of a cheque which is to be used for the purchase of rose trees for the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Wall Jones's new home at Parkgate; the balance being used for the purchase of a fireside chair. A bouquet was presented to Mrs. Wall Jones by Miss E. J. Laughland, the junior girl at Claughton Village. In the course of his remarks Mr. Pickering recalled the active part which Mrs. Wall Jones had taken in the early years of the Society of the Arts, immediately after the war, and to the constant support they had both given to the social functions of the Bank and expressed the hope that they would both enjoy many years of happiness in their new home. After the speeches a tea party was held. Mr. Wall Jones entered the Bank in 1916 at Victoria Street, and subsequently served at Claughton Village (twice), Mossley Hill, Bootle, Water Street, Formby, on the Relief staff, Liverpool City Office and Egremont. He was appointed Manager at Claughton Village in 1937.

 

One for the album…

We are delighted to be able to show this photograph from around 1957, which was kindly donated to Martins Bank Archive by Craig Turner.  It features the Manager, Mr A Wall Jones (Second from left) and Mr Turner’s Uncle, Mr John C Lewis (Right).  Thanks to an email from Mary Hughes who worked for Martins Bank, we are now able to identify the young lady in the picture as Miss Val Foster.  Mary whose maiden surname was Reid, writes:

“Just spent a happy hour trawling through the Martins Archive and noticed that you have an unknown lady at Birkenhead Claughton Village Branch in 1957.  She was Miss Val Foster, later to become Mrs Val Brock and she is the daughter of Arthur (known as Mac) Foster who was Manager at Wallasey Egrement Branch.  I was at Wallasey Branch between 1961 and 1970 and was trained by Val.  Gilly Walker was my first Manager, Tony Clayton was my second Manager”… 

This just leaves us with the man on the left of the photo, and if you can help with this identificiation, or have any memories or images of Claughton Village or indeed of any of Martins Bank’s 1000+ Branch Buildings, please do get in touch with us at the usual address  gutinfo@btinternet.com

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

- Craig Turner

Thanks to the foresight of Robert Montgomery, there exists a large collection of photographs of British Bank Branches that have closed down in recent years. Robert has kindly made available to us, those photographs that represent former branches of Martins Bank. Here we see Claughton Village Branch in August 2009, just under four years before its permanent closure by Barclays…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0196

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Robert Montgomery

It is also really good to know, that even though 28 Upton Road has ceased to be a bank, the memory of Martins will still be preserved within this beautiful carving of Martins Bank’s Coat of Arms that sits atop the front door.  This is one of several examples of the Bank’s history being stamped onto the very buildings it once occupied… 

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0196

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Robert Montgomery

1933 to 1937 Mr J R Whittle Manager MBM-Sp48P41.jpg

1937 to 1959 Mr A Wall Jones Manager MBM-Wi59P55.jpg

1949 to 1950 Mr R E J Wess MBM-Au68P08.jpg

1957 John C Lewis - Craig Turner MBA.jpg

1950 s Female Staff Member - Craig Turner MBA.jpg

1959 to 1966 Mr A J Irving Manager MBM-Sp66P07.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr J R Whittle

Manager

1933 to 1937

Mr A Wall Jones

Manager

1937 to 1959

Mr R E J Wess

On the Staff

1949 to 1950

Mr John C Lewis

On the Staff

1957 (resigned)

Miss Val Foster

On the Staff

1957

Mr A J Irving

Manager

1959 to 1966

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1966 Mr WD Milne Manager MBM-Sp66P04.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Mr W D Milne

Manager

1966 onwards

 

 

 

 

 

For a full list of all Branch Banks and financial

institutions trading in BIRKENHEAD in 1967/68

Please visit our BIRKENHEAD HAMILTON SQUARE page.

 

Title:

Type:

Address:

Index No and District:

Hours:

 

Telephone:

Services:

Manager:

11-85-20 Birkenhead Claughton Village

Full Branch

28 Upton Road Claughton Birkenhead  Cheshire

12 Liverpool

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

CLAughton 5877

Nightsafe Installed

Mr W D Milne Manager

 

Birkenhead Charing Cross

18 October 1914

18 December 1918

3 January 1928

15 December 1969

26 July 2013

Opened by the Bank of Liverpool

Bank of Liverpool and Martins

Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-07-41 Birkenhead Claughton Village

Closed permanently from 12 Noon

Birkenhead Dacre Hill

M