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“In tarn t’night!”
 
 It is not every day that Martins Bank attracts Royalty to
the opening of one of its Branches, let alone “the power behind the throne”
herself, so the Directors and General Managers of the Bank will have taken
particular pride when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother drops by
to officially declare open Agriculture House Knightsbridge, in October 1956. This pride will probably have been great
enough to brush aside the fact that Her Majesty is actually there to open the
headquarters of the National Farmers’ Union.
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In Service: 18 October
1956 – 6 April 1970
Images © Barclays Ref 0030/1400
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It is also such a prime site for attracting wealthy
customers, that both Martins and Barclays have paid undisclosed (to this day)
fortunes to have representation in the form of side by side Branches! When
the two banks merge in 1969, the Martins Branch (known as Knightsbridge) is
closed and the Business is transferred several yards to the right to
Barclays, whose Branch – which has the same address - is known as Hyde Park
Corner. In 1956, Martins Bank Magazine
publishes the following article to explain that throwing so much money into a
new Branch is a “bold but logical step n the programme of the Bank’s
expansion”…
  The acquisition of a new London branch
is a financial experience which rather takes the breath of ordinary mortals
away and our new Knightsbridge office in Agriculture House, the headquarters
of the National Farmers' Union, is a bold yet logical step in the programme
of the Bank's expansion. Let us make
no mistake about it, this is not just another London branch, acquired because
the opportunity arose of opening in a very good position, little more than a
stone's throw from Hyde Park Corner. The need for this new branch has been
apparent for some time and it has a special contribution to make towards the
all-round efficiency and service provided by the institution as a whole. Some
training a little out of the ordinary run is necessary for the manager of a
branch such as this and the job is at once a great challenge and a great
opportunity for Mr. Christopher Askew, whose first appointment it is. Mr. Askew received his special grooming
from Mr. J. A. Naisbitt, whose assistant he was in connection with the
special duties performed by Mr. Naisbitt at South Audley Street. Grievously
wounded in the last war, Mr. Askew has had a rough time through resulting physical handicap. We
in the Editorial and Advertising Department have come to know him well
because of his co-operation in the production of our annual booklet
"Finance for Farmers and Growers" and we were delighted to learn of
his promotion. From the branch window can be
seen Her Majesty's Horse Guards returning each morning through the Park after
the Changing of the Guard in Whitehall: the minute a window is opened "
the mighty roar of London's traffic " reminds us of “In Town tonight"
and of the Knightsbridge March. Across
the road the green fastnesses of Hyde Park beckon invitingly and one can see
the weathering stonework of No. 1 London, the former home of the great Duke
of Wellington, now a museum, and one which well repays a visit. You feel here, much more than in the City
at Lombard Street, that this is the hub of the Empire. Colour and movement,
vitality and the purposeful surge of life itself are all here, yet right
behind Agriculture House, completely unknown to the visitor, can be seen in a
quiet mews numerous exclusive residences formerly lived in by servants over
the stables and now occupied by rich people over the garages which have
replaced the stables. You have to have money to live in Knightsbridge.
As will be seen from the
photograph, our branch is alongside a branch of Barclays Bank and it is
interesting to note that whereas we have pursued contemporary trends in
interior decoration, referred to in previous issues of the Magazine, our
competitors have been much more traditional.
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The Staff at Agriculture House,
Knightsbridge
Left to right: Mr P R Edwards (Messenger), Miss A Colse, Mr C Askew
(Manager),
Mr E S P Watts and Mr V A Barker
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“HM Queen
Elizabeth the Queen Mother with Sir James Turner, President of the National
Farmers’ Union outside our branch on the day of the official opening of
Agriculture House, 18 October 1956”.
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Very ample space has been taken to allow for the expansion of
our new branch but at the moment the resulting effect in the general office
itself is a little bare. Counter arrangements and the fittings of the
customers' space especially are unusually pleasing. There is a controversial
red pillar matching a red wall in the customers' space. The other pillars are
clothed in marble. We like the motif of contemporary decoration whereby a
colour in one part of a room gains strength and purpose from its repetition
elsewhere, but the prevailing view is that it should match the others. Mr. Askew is a Northerner and his father,
Mr. T. E. Askew, whom we were very pleased to meet later in the day, was
Manager at Millom. Mr. C. Askew served at Haltwhistle, Penrith, Botchergate
and Barrow before the Second World War claimed him. In 1947, after recovery
from wounds, he went to London District Office and he remained at 68,
Lombard Street until 1955 when he went on General Management duties at South
Audley Street. Mr. E. S. P. Watts has, apart from war
service, 1941 to 1946, spent
all his time at Cocks Biddulph branch.
He is delighted at the change and the greater opportunity presented
to him. Mr. V. A. Barker
entered the Bank at Baker Street in 1952 and, after National Service, was
transferred to Edgware Road in 1955.
Miss A. Cole started her career this year at London District Office.
Later in the day we went for dinner
to the house of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Webster and then to join Mr, Askew's
parents and sister for an evening at the Players Theatre.
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