11-31-50 South Shields Laygate

The North Eastern Banking Company opens a Branch at Laygate, South Shields in 1894. The official records held by Barclays Group Archives show that the original premises taken over from the North East Banking Company are described in the title register as being “on the south-east side of Green Street, in the township of Westoe, address being 29 Green Street/91-93 Laygate Lane”.

In Service: 1894 until 13 February 1962

Image © BT 1933

However, from the earliest telephone directory records available to us – 1922 – the Branch is listed under the ownership both of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins AND Martins Bank Limited as 44 Laygate, until 1938 when it changes to 29 GREEN STREET. That’s how things stay until 1959 when the Bank moves its staff out of Green Street into a double-fronted shop premises further down the road to a strangely familiar address - 42-44 Laygate Lane! This will be their temporary home from 1 Jan 1960 to 13 Feb 1962. Green Street is knocked down and rebuilt, and then re-opened as 187 Laygate! It all seems very confusing indeed….

FEATURING STAFF WHO WORKED AT 44 LAYGATE UP TO THE 1938 MOVE TO 29 GREEN STREET



*Mr C G Whittingham* *Joined the Bank Here* *1913 to 1932*	*Mr Andrew Smith* *On the Staff* *1914*	*Mr J P Cotton* *On the Staff* *1915 to 1915*	*Mr N H Marsh* *On the Staff* *1919 to 1935*	*Mr H Rowland Child* *Joined the Bank Here* *1920*	*Mr J W Chapman* *On the Staff* *1922 to 1924*

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*Mr H Johnston* *Manager* *1922 to 1930*	*Mr H M Gibson* *Manager* *1930 to 1950*	*Mr W O C Carrick* *On the Staff* *1938 to 1940*