11-191 Chopwell

1922 sees a surge in the expansion of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins, where we see notonly new Branches and sub-Branches opened, but also existing sub-Branches upgraded. At this stage too, plans are put in place for the new Head Office Building which will not actually be completed and opened for another ten yeas. Chopwell is one of the upgraded sub-Branches, and is listed as a full branch until at least 1940.

In Service: pre 1914 until 13 February 1943

Chopwell

Image © Barclays 1922

Situated about eleven miles west of Gateshead, Chopwell comes to Martins Bank from the amalgamation of the North Eastern Banking Company with the Bank of Liverpool in 1914. Chopwell opens each Monday and Wednesday for two hours, and thanks to its full branch status, has a telephone line installed. The branch survives until 1943, mothballed for reasons of staff shortage during the Second World War, but not re-opened.

{Branches have been opened at Workington and at Shudehill, Manchester; and Sub-Branches have been opened at Aspatria, Caldbeck, Chatburn, Farningham, Hesket-new-Market and Lowick. The following Sub-Branches have been made into full Branches :—Chopwell, Coxhoe, Earby, and Middleton-in-Teesdale. Premises for new Branches have been acquired at Huddersfield, Preston, Bolton, Ormskirk and Helsby. The Foreign Branch has been moved from Head Office to 6, Water Street, Liverpool, and, in order to provide for further growth of Head Office business, the Bank has purchased Nos. 2 and 4, Water Street, Liverpool.}