11-25-00 Appleby in Westmorland

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Acquiring the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank provides the Bank of Liverpool – consequently Martins Bank – with a number of branches in some of the furthest Northern parts of England, right up to the Scottish Border. In the late 1830s business at Appleby branch progresses steadily, but some problems do arise in 1842. Mr John Atkinson, tea dealer and former Agent of the bank’s business, is prosecuted for embezzlement and duly convicted. The bank is forced to recover what it can of his personal overdraft, which at £667 (£63,000 today) is still a VERY high figure.

In Service: Pre 1911 until Friday 18 May 2018

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0055

It also sells Atkinson’s ten shares in the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank. This is a learning curve for the bank, as it is their own original promise to Mr Atkinson that a substantial overdraft will be granted to him, that induces him to become the Agent at Appleby. They review policy in respect of other agents in order to minimise any future losses. In 1875, despite a number of ‘flat’ years of trading, the Carlisle and Cumberland undertakes a number of building projects which include the re-building of the Appleby branch.

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xADAPTED FROM FOUR CENTURIES OF BANKING VOL II

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Original cheques from the days of the Carlisle and Cumberland Banking Company are hard to come by these days, so we were delighted when this image of an Appleby Branch cheque was donated to Martins Bank Archive by Stephen Walker. It dates from December 1882, at which time the Bank uses the London and Westminster Bank as its London Clearing Agents.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Stephen Walker

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0055

Whilst Kendal is the administrative centre for Westmorland, Appleby is the County Town, and home to the famous Horse Fair whose participants make a slow but steady annual journey to the town by horse and caravan. In the 1960s Martins Bank Appleby receives the open, bright and welcoming treatment, showing that on the inside at least, some of the Bank’s oldest offices really can be tastefully brought up to date and made ready for the business of modern banking.

Image © Barclays Ref 0033-0023

ABOVE: Could it be that parking outside the branch is yet another of the ways in which Martins goes to extremes to be helpful to its customers at Appleby in Westmorland?

RIGHT: The almost “church-like” exterior of the Branch…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0055

Boys and their toys…

Long before the M6 Motorway has reached this area, the narrow, beautiful and often dangerous roads of Cumberland and Westmorland are just right for those who “feel the need for speed”. One of these people is Appleby Branch staff Member Alan Ritchie, who shows off this sporty little number in the Autumn 1961 edition of Martins Bank Magazine, but with, apparently, safety foremost in his mind…

1961 03 MBM.jpg Mr. Alan Ritchie (Appleby), son of Mr. J. H. Ritchie (Manager, Penrith), was the winner of the second annual Road Safety Rally organised by the Cumberland Sporting Car Club and the Cumberland and Westmorland Constabulary in May. There were 51 competitors and in addition to the points awarded for correct driving there were a number of exacting tests. Mr. Ritchie was accompanied by his wife, who was formerly on our staff at Carlisle.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

Farewell, Mr Totty…

1967 04 MBM.jpg A party of colleagues met at Appleby branch on October 28 when the District General Manager presented Mr Totty with a cheque on behalf of subscribers and Miss Sandra Carrick presented Mrs Totty with a piece of Beswick pottery. Mr D. D. Gibson spoke of the enthusiasm shown by Mr Totty in all that he had undertaken whether in his daily work or in his favourite hobbies of canoeing and scouting. Mr Buchanan outlined Mr Totty's career before making the presentation and spoke appreciatively of his services both to the Bank and to outside organisations.

Mr Totty responded with some amusing anecdotes about his service in Liverpool and the North, following which the guests were entertained to drinks and refreshments in the office. Mr Totty entered the service in 1925 at Water Street, working in the Liverpool and Chester areas until joining H.M. Forces in 1939. He joined the Northern District in 1946 and after eleven years at Ambleside became Manager at Appleby in 1959. In retirement he will live at Arnside.



*Mr J D Addison* *Joined the Bank Here* *1917*	*Mr R Ritchie* *On the Staff* *1917 to 1917*	*Mr J M Bainbridge* *On the Staff* *1936 to 1939*	*Mr J A Ritchie* *On the Staff* *1945 to 1946*	*Mr J M Varty* *On the Staff* *1947 to 1948*	*Mr H B-P Williamosn* *Manager* *1954 to 1959*



*Mr E B Totty* *Manager* *1959 to 1967*	*Mr Alan Ritchie* *On the Staff* *1961*	*Mr J A Henderson* *Manager* *1967 onwards*