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This is Guernsey…

Martins Bank establishes its first Branch in the Channel islands in 1951 at St Helier, Jersey. Guernsey follows in 1955 with this very striking corner building. Although it is no longer a bank, it does make an equally striking public house in the Twenty-First Century.

Two further Branches are opened on Jersey, but St Peter Port remains Martins’ only office on Guernsey. For a feature in its Autumn 1966 Issue, Martins Bank Magazine visits the Channel Islands and provides us with this rather brief glimpse into the life of Martins Bank’s Guernsey Branch, and its staff at that time…

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St Peter Port in Guernsey has provided us with a most attractive site, brightened by window boxes, photographed frequently and praised periodically in the local press for the retention of its stately appearance and character even after extension. Inside too, it earns full marks for brightness, cleanliness and space.

This Building In Service: January 1955 until December 1985

1960 s Guernsey Exterior BGA Ref 33-247

Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0033-0247

While wishing to avoid a travelogue it is fair to say that in a tour of this curb-flattened, narrow-laned island where the fir cones, the ants and even the more modest cigarettes are king-size, one sees more glasshouses to the square mile than seem possible or necessary.

Yet these acres of glass give a clue to the island's main industry —the growing and export of tomatoes which bring in £5 million a year. Running neck and neck at about £3 million are flower exports and tourism. Guernsey branch does not enjoy a slack period, as one might hope or expect, for when the visitors have gone the hoteliers and growers begin repairs and renewals in readiness for next year's harvest, and the business of the branch reverts to banking as distinct from the counter and currency transactions which at the time of our call had brought thirty French school children in to exchange their francs. Guernsey, being – like Jersey – an island state with its own government, laws, police, hospitals and schools, is a tightly knit, well run and industrious community and our branch therefore fits no particular heading because it deals with everything – boat hirers, manufacturers, farmers, shopkeepers. You name it, they've got it.

A branch such as this requires something more than a banking boffin to run it which explains its success under that happy extrovert Mr Ernest Yates who opened the office twelve years ago. Most unfortunately he was ill when we called but his many friends will be glad to know that reports on his health are encouraging. With Norman Deane, ably holding the fort after ten years' experience of Guernsey banking, we found a staff comprising an Englishman, a Guernseyman, two Guernsey girls, a married one from Jersey and a retired returnee Roly Thompson a North-Easterner formerly with the London District. From them we learnt much about the commonsense system of non-party government and of the rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey.

Guernsey to someone from Jersey is an impoverished little island of pink granite, devoid of scenery or charm. To the people of Guernsey its rival is a squalid, money-seeking, commercialised slab of rock. Since neither island bothers to criticise Herm, Alderney or Sark it is safe to assume that the attitude is typically insular and not to be over-stressed. In the branch it shows in good natured leg-pulling and when we met it outside we had to remind ourselves that no true son of Lancashire or Yorkshire speaks well of those primitives the other side of the Pennines. But the islanders themselves – rather like our Bank – go to extremes to be helpful and where in England would one find a taxidriver volunteering to do the incidental shopping for a lady passenger? Guernsey’s glasshouses are really necessary for the island slopes downwards to the north unlike its rival 25 miles away, which is blessed with a southern slope. In Jersey we spent sufficient time touring to realise that both islands have a few black but many beauty spots.



Mr N Deane On the Staff 1957 to 1967	Miss A M Brimage On the Staff 1966	Miss M J LeCornu On the Staff 1966	Mr E H C Yates Manager 1966	Mr M J Stonebridge On the Staff 1966	Mr N L Parnwell On the Staff 1966



Miss A Langois On the Staff 1966

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