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December 1872 and the
North Eastern Banking Company opens this particularly impressive branch in
Lombard Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, that will be known as Quayside
Branch. By surviving under Barclays until
1979 there are, at least, more than one hundred years of banking service
here, but from a purely economic view, Newcastle is quite overrun with former
Martins Branches, and some of them have to go. However, when we consider today’s clinical
and soulless bank branches - nothing more than shop fronts and cheap fittings
- the loss of fine premises such as these does seem sad. Bank buildings were traditionally intended
to convey strength, secuirty and permanence. The irony today is that whilst a
number of newer banking institutions have managed to make their homes in some
of Martins’ former branches, many more
of these building are now inhabited by businesses such as top-end fashion
retailers and mobile phone companies.
They actually seek out this kind of property in order to make a bold
statement about their own “strength” and “permanence”!
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In Service:
2 December 1872 until 26 October 1979
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2014
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Our feature is from 1958,
and the retirement of Quayside Pro Manager, Mr D T Hall…
  On the last day of July a gathering took
place at Quayside branch to bid farewell to Mr. D. T. Hall on the occasion of
his retirement after 44 years' service. Among those present were the managers
of Gallowgate and Northumberland Street branches, at both of which Mr. Hall
had served as Pro Manager. The managers of Tyne Dock and Wallsend branches
were also present. Earlier in the day Mr. L.
L Walton, the District
General Manager, had called at the branch to extend his good wishes and
thanks to Mr. Hall for his loyal and outstandingly efficient service to the
Bank. After
tea, served to the gathering of some thirty past and present colleagues by
Mrs. Hall, their daughter Joan, her friend, and several lady members of the
staff, Mr. J. Johnson, Manager at Quayside, presented Mr. Hall with a cheque
on behalf of the subscribers, and a scroll bearing their names. To mark his
pending change of status he was also presented with an apron and a set of tea
towels, all suitably inscribed, a gesture which caused much hilarity. After
Mr. Hall had replied, a bouquet was presented to Mrs. Hall by Miss Anne Todd
and those present then adjourned to the temporary bar which had been set up
at the statement counter. Mr. Hall is thinking of using his cheque towards the
purchase of a greenhouse in furtherance of his horticultural interests, which
he combines with his love of bowls. He
entered the Bank at Alnwick in 1914, and after serving with H.M. Forces from
1916-19, resumed his career at Gallowgate where he stayed until 1928. Then
followed periods at Jesmond, Newcastle City Office, Coatsworth Road and
during the last war on the District General Manager's Relief and Inspection
staffs. He was appointed Pro Manager (Accountant) at Gallowgate in 1945, Pro
Manager at Northumberland Street in 1951 and Pro Manager at Quayside in 1954.
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