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The images on this page of
Martins Bank’s Branch at Consett, were taken around the time of the 1964
branch refurbishment programme, which sees many of the Bank’s oldest
buildings made good for the decades to come. They must have done things fairly well,
as this branch is still open today.
Consett is in fact one of Martins’ oldest branches, having been
opened by the North Eastern Banking Company in 1872, not long after the
formation of that Bank. Full use is made of the available space to produce
a banking hall that is light open and friendly, and although there are
counter screens, these seem more to do with privacy than security. As ever
it is interesting to glimpse the street outside, frozen in time.
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Consett hall…
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In Service: 1 July 1872
until 21 September 2022
Image © Barclays
Ref 0030/0708
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Images © Barclays
Ref 30/708
An arrangment of flowers in the banking
hall, is a tradition that dates back to the 1930s, extremely high standards
having been set at Liverpool City Office Branch, where huge arrangements of
fresh flowers are on show every day of the working week. In 1966, Martins Bank Magazine covers the
retirement gathering for Mr Jennings, who retires from Consett Branch after
forty-two years’ service with Martins Bank…
Consett
party…
  on 31 march Mr and Mrs Jennings entertained
about 60 past and present colleagues, their wives and their husbands to a buffet
supper party at the Carlton Restaurant, Consett, to mark Mr Jennings'
retirement as Manager of Consett branch. District Office was represented by
Mr M. A. Charlton and Miss H. P. Macdonald, and Mr Jennings had earlier
lunched with his District General Manager at Grey Street. Mr W. Maddison
(Manager, Shotley Bridge), after expressing everyone's regret that Mr
Jennings should be retiring on medical advice, congratulated him on his
excellent recovery from his recent illness and wished him many years of happy
retirement. He then presented a cheque from subscribers and Miss Eileen
Harrison presented Mrs Jennings with a bouquet. Mr Jennings responded with
a lively and witty speech, giving observations on the Bank and its staff
during his 'forty glorious years'. The cheque, he told his listeners, would
be used to buy a film projector. The party continued in a warm atmosphere
of reunion, with music and dancing, and will remain an occasion for both Mr
and Mrs Jennings to remember. After entering the Bank at Tow Law in 1924 Mr
Jennings served at several branches in the District. Following five years'
war service he was appointed Manager at Lanchester in 1947 and at Consett
in 1954.
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