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Leading a double life?

In 1940, Martins Bank’s premises at 32 Lowndes Street are destroyed by a bomb, and the business has to be relocated. Temporary premises are found just around the corner at 48 Sloane Street, which, although surviving as a branch until 1956, has the words “Lowndes Street Branch” stencilled onto the front window. Leading a kind of “double life”, this office actually serves as Lowndes Street branch until 1948, when another much larger office opens at No 153 SLOANE STREET. From then, until closure in 1956, No 48 Sloane Street is run as a sub branch to No 153.

In Service: September 1940 until 1956

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections - Geoff Taylor

Thanks to the amazing forward thinking of Martins Colleagues who liked to take or collect photographs of the Bank’s branches we are able to see this rare and wonderful image of No 48 Sloane Street, taken in 1954. From the opening of Lowndes Street in 1930, to the closure of 48 Sloane Street and beyond, Manager Mr K R Wright is at the helm, and you can read more about him on our LOWNDES STREET page.

Mr K R Wright Manager 1940 to 1948	Mr R D Beaumont On the Staff 1940 to 1942	Miss E M Webster Wartime Clerk in Charge 1943 to 1946	Mr E M Farrell On the Staff 1944 to 1945

Title: Type: Address: Index Number and District: Hours: Telephone: Services: Manager:

London 48 Sloane Street Run as Lowndes Street from 1940 to 1948, later Sub to 11-08 London 153 Sloane Street from 1948 to 1956 48 Sloane Street London SW1 426 London Mon to Fri 1000-1200 Saturday 0930-1100 SLOane 6206 Counter Service Only Mr K R Wright Manager

London 84 Piccadilly

September 1940 1948 1956

Opened as a temporary branch when 32 Lowndes St Bombed Becomes sub to 153 Sloane Street Closed

London 153 Sloane Street