11-45-20 Calne

Calne is one of the first new branches to be opened following the official creation of Martins Bank’s South Western District in 1960. Below you will see a rare photograph which shows the final preparation of the floor area, before the fitting out of the building with the counter area and other furniture, as Calne prepares for a Bank branch that will last for just over fifty years…

Although the twenty-first century sees the branch continuing to offer a full banking service, all good things must come to an end, and Calne serves its last customers on 4 October 2013.

In service: 1962 – 4 October 2013

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0509

In our “then and now” feature, you will see that during Barclays’ tenure of the building, the lovely ivy is no more. What’s more, the large meat processing factory seen behind the building in 1961 is also (thankfully) gone. First, we will journey back to 1968, when Calne’s popular Clerk in Charge, Val Scott retires. As usual, Martins Bank Magazine is there to mark the occasion…

1968 02 MBM.jpg at the end of February Val Scott retired after 42 years With the Bank, twenty-three of which, apart from his service with H.M. Forces, were spent in Northern District. He went to Bristol in 1949, being appointed Pro Manager there in 1958, and four years later he became Clerk-in-Charge at Calne, a town in which he was a very popular figure.

1962 to 1968 Mr H V Scott Clerk in Charge MBM-Su68P51.jpg On the eve of his departure Mr and Mrs Scott entertained at their home nearly forty people, colleagues and their wives—a reflection of Mr Scott's popularity within the Bank in view of the remote position of Calne. Many more, too far away, wrote to express regret at being unable to come. During the course of an enjoyable evening a nest of tables was presented by Mr Clarkson, who expressed the good wishes of those present.

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0509

A smaller and less formal ceremony was held at the branch when the staff gave Mr Scott woodworking tools and a picture. The Scotts are Cumbrians and are retiring to the Solway, a fortuitous choice judging by photographs of their new home.

Goodbye Calne…

Whilst Calne was originally run as a self accounting sub branch to Martins Bank 42 Milsom Street Bath, it did gain full branch status at the time of the merger with Barclays in 1969. In the Twenty-first Century, the ever changing state of the British High Street, means that Calne Branch served its last customer on Friday 4 October 2013, and our friends at Barclays have advised us that the business transferred to their branch at 66 Market Place Chippenham. We would like to thank everyone involved in running Calne over its fifty-one year history, and making it one of the oldest Branches in Martins Bank’s youngest District – South Western. We do hope this handsome building will be put to good use by its new owners.