11-27-40 Halifax Silver Street

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

DISTRICT BANK LIMITED

LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

Commercial Street

King Cross

Queen’s Road

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

16 Silver Street

King Cross

MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

23 Silver Street

Ovenden

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK

WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED

WILLIAMS DEACON’S BANK

This is one of the more spectacular pieces of banking architecture in the UK to have ended its days as a pub. Martins Bank has two branches in Silver street, thanks to its constituent banks. No.16 comes from the Halifax Equitable in 1927, and No.2 from the Halifax Commercial Bank in 1920. From that same amalgamation comes a third Halifax Branch, at King Cross. There are no visits to 16 Silver Street by Martins Bank Magazine, but we do have a retirement feature for you. In 1958 Mr H S Homes retires after a long and distinguished career with the bank that begins and ends in Halifax, albeit starting at No 2 Silver Street and Retiring from No 16. As usual, Martins Bank Magazine is there to record the festivities…

In Service: 16 August 1886 until 1985

All Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030-1163

On August 29^th Mr H S Holmes, Accountant at Halifax retired after forty-four years’ service which had commenced in Halifax with the Equitable Bank in 1914 and continued unbroken there apart from a short spell at Brighouse and relief duties at nearby Branches. He was appointed Pro Manager in 1937. During the day Mr Holmes gave a cocktail party at a local café to a number of his business friends and acquaintances. A party was later held in the Branch, where seventy past and present colleagues gathered from far and near to bid him farewell and to partake of the delightful tea which he had arranged. At the ceremony which followed, Mr L Atkins, Assistant Manager, referred to Mr Holmes’ quialities which had endeared him to all; a “Christian Gentleman” in every sense of the term. Mr F A A Beresford, Manager at Halifax, in presenting an electric fire and a cheque to Mr Holmes, paid tribute to his loyal and valued service to the Bank, and to the esteem in which he was held by those present.

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-1163
He also thanked Mr Holmes for the generous way in which he had taught him the “history” of Halifax. Mr Holmes, who had been looking forward to the occasion for some considerable time, was in great form and expressed his thanks in a delightful and reminiscent vein. By his side, we were pleased to see Mrs Holmes, who was presented with a beautiful bouquest by Miss M Corssley. Mr Ashworth then thanked Mr Holmes for his kind hospitality, and many old friends including Mr S Smith, Inspector; Mr Akroyd, Sub Manager of Bradford Branch, and Mrs Williams (on behalf of the Halifax Ladies) added their good wishes for a long and happy retirement.
	In another of our “then and now” comparison features, here is No.16 Silver Street Branch in its Martins Bank days, and then in 2015 courtesy of Martins Colleague and friend of the Archive, John Robertshaw..
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1163		Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections - John Robertshaw 2015



Mr J B Kergon Joined the Bank Here 1916	Mr R G Kippax Joined the Bank Here 1921	Mr T R Challis Joined the Bank Here 1922	Mr B W Broadley Joined the Bank Here 1924 to 1943	Mr A Mitchell On the Staff 1927 to 1929	Mr D P Rotherforth Joined the Bank Here 1930 to 1942



Mr M Hollway Joined the Bank Here 1936 to 1936	Mr H S Holmes Accountant 1937 to 1958	Mr R E Briggs On the Staff 1938 to 1939	Mr J F Firth Joined here 1940 to 1942 Asst Manager 1964-6	Mr J Halliday Manager 1941 to 1948	Mr J E Bateman Manager 1948 to 1954



Mr G T Wadsworth On the Staff 1949 to 1955	Mr B Whiteley Joined the Bank Here 1951 to 1952	Mr A Ogden Assistant Manager 1952	Mr F A A Beresford Manager 1954 to 1961	Mr R N Weightman Assistant Manager 1961 to 1964	Mr L Atkins Manager 1961 to 1968



Miss M G Fielding Cashier 1964	Mr L Greaves Chief Cashier 1964	Mr W Pearson Deputy Manager 1966 to 1968	Mr G H Wilford Accountant 1967	Mr C Harris Deputy Manager 1968	Mr J D Grabham Manager 1968 onwards