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“In 1825, the first
steam train left Darlington. British
Rail expect it to arrive some time tomorrow afternoon…” Alright, the old
jokes are not always the best, but the Stockton and Darlington Railway brings
serious business and prosperity to
the local area. The North Eastern Banking Company opens this impressive
branch in Darlington’s High Row in 1897, which is open for a total of 74
years. The design reminds us of the model railway accessory kits featured on
our GIVEAWAYS page. Colour images of
Martins branches are few and far between, so we were delightwed to be given
permission by David Christie to exhibit his photo taken August 1970.
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In Service: 1897 until may 1971
Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections: David Christie
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For those of us looking back from the twenty-first Century, it is a
stroke of luck that although the branch did not survive for long after the
merger, Barclays chose not to change the signage on the building, and we
get to see Martins Bank as its customers did, and in colour! A further stroke of luck is the inclusion
of the National Provincial Bank in the photograph. It too was about to
undergo changes – in 1970 the merger of the NATIONAL Provincial, the WESTMINSTER, and the District BANK, gave us the National Westminster Bank, known ever since as NatWest.
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Whilst there are no recorded
visits from Martins Bank Magazine to Darlington, we do have a large number
of images to choose from, particularly of the branch interior, and this
striking angled view of the exterior from the Barclays collection.
Darlington has sub branches at Cockerton, Darlington Auction Mart and at
Newton Aycliffe. Sadly all three are
closed in 1969 and do not form part of Barclays’ acquisition. The main
branch in the High Row does survive a little longer, but is gone before the
Summer of 1971. Now to the story of the retirement of Darlington Branch’s
Head Typist. In 2012 the last
British made typewriter rolls off the production line, and is immediately
snapped up for display by the Science Museum! Perhaps it’s the end of an error (or
two), but in 1969 it is also the end of an era – 23 years of typing and not
one mention of repetitive strain
injury!
 23 years of sore fingers…
 on 28 march, Miss Linda
Woodhouse welcomed thirty-three colleagues at the Kings Head Hotel,
Darlington, where they were entertained to drinks and a buffet tea. Among
the apologies received from those unable to attend were those of Mr J. E.
Dunn, a former manager at Darlington, now approaching ninety. Mr R. Russell (Manager, Darlington) spoke of the years
Miss Woodhouse had served at the branch which, with her four years with the
W.A.A.F., totalled 32. Miss Woodhouse had been senior typist at Darlington
since 1946.
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Image © Barclays Ref 0033/0177
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Receiving a nest of mahogany
tables and a cheque, Miss Woodhouse said how delighted she was to see so
many friends, particularly her pre-war colleagues who brought back many
vivid memories of her early days in the Bank. Mr A. B. Stevens had previously called at the branch to
say farewell on behalf of the District Management.
We think that the last thing Miss Woodhouse will
put on any of her nest of tables is a typewriter! In her time at Darlington
Linda serves FOUR different Managers, and at the celebrations for
the retirements of Mr Elton and Mr Young (see below), she is charged with
handing a bouquet of flowers to each of their wives…
  At
the end of February, Mr. S. A. Elton retired after 44 years' service which
commenced at Darlington where he served until 1932. After service in the Newcastle
area, he was transferred to Barnard Castle in 1936, and was appointed
Manager there in 1945. In 1951 he returned to Darlington where he has been
Manager ever since. To mark the
occasion of his retirement Mr. Elton invited a number of his friends and
colleagues from other branches to join with the Darlington staff for a
farewell party given at the County Hotel, Darlington, on February 29th.
During the proceedings Mr. F. J. Gill, Pro Manager, presented Mr. Elton
with a gold automatic wristlet watch on behalf of the subscribers, and a
bouquet of spring flowers was presented to Mrs. Elton by Miss L. Woodhouse.
In making the presentation, Mr. Gill referred to
Mr. Elton's successful career and to the respect in which he was held by
members of his staff and by customers. Mr. W. S. Blaylock, Inspector, North
Eastern District Office, spoke appreciatively of Mr. Elton's loyal service
to the Bank, and expressed the good wishes of himself and the North
Eastern District General Management for a long and happy retirement. Mr.
Walton had already called at the branch during the morning to see Mr. Elton
and to wish him well in the years ahead. In
response Mr. Elton expressed his thanks for the present he had received and
thanked his colleagues for the friendship and assistance they had shown him
throughout the years.
  mr young marked his retirement as
Manager of Darlington branch at the end of July with an informal buffet
supper at the King's Head, Darlington. Many past and present colleagues and
representatives of District Office attended and during the evening Mr M.
Walker (Pro Manager) presented Mr Young with their gifts of an armchair and
a cheque. Miss Linda Woodhouse handed a bouquet to Mrs Young. Prior to his retirement Mr Young had lunched at Head
Office and at Grey Street, and his District General Manager called at the
branch on July 30 to wish him well.
After entering the Bank at King Street in
1921 Mr Young served on the North Eastern D.G.M. staff from 1929 to 1949,
apart from six years' war service, He then joined the visiting inspectors
and in 1950 was appointed Assistant Manager at Sunderland. Two years later
he was promoted to the managership of York Road branch and appointed Manager
at Darlington in 1960.
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Before the shock of the new…
Our images of Darlington from Barclays’
collection are from 1957, and show for a change a Branch that is well
kept in the older style, rather than crying out for the kind of shocking
sixties modernisation we have seen at other Branches, YORK ROAD HARTLEPOOL for example.
Image © Martins Bank Archive
Collections: Stephen Walker
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Interior images © Barclays Ref 0033/0177
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All branch images © Barclays Ref
0033/0177
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All branch images © Barclays Ref
0033/0177
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All branch images © Barclays Ref
0033/0177
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