11-32-20 London Bruton Street

A nightingale almost sang…

“We may be right, we may be wrong, but we’re perfectly willing to swear, at those who named it Bruton Street Instead of Berkeley Square!”

…which would of course have been a much more fitting title. For the sake of argument, Bruton Street comes first in the address, so we guess that puts an end to our notion of nightingales and liver birds joined in harmonious song. Come to think of it, the resulting cacophony might not be conducive to a pleasant evening in Berkeley Square…

In Service: June 1940 to 22 February 2019

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3350

Martins Bank’s Branch at 11 Bruton Street is also known as Berkeley Square Branch. Under Barclays the Branch has a long life, lasting until 2019, and for the last ten years of service it is known perhaps even more confusingly as MAYFAIR branch! It has a pleasing, gentle look, and opens in June 1940 after a previous and short life in temporary premises in the real BERKELEY SQUARE at No 27. Martins Bank likes tradition, and through Sir Thomas Gresham can just about count Queen Elizabeth I amongst its customers. Bruton street also has royal connections, the Branch is just three doors down from the birthplace of our present Queen! For our feature, we fast-forward to 1964, where it is time to bid farewell to another of the Bank’s longer serving managers, Mr Shaw, who is joined at his retirement gathering by a large number of the London District Staff… *on may* 28th many members of the staff from all over the London District and beyond crowded into Bruton Street branch to hear Mr F. C. Hardman (Assistant District Manager) pay a glowing tribute to Mr Shaw, the Manager, who was retiring after 45 years' service. Mr Shaw was presented with a book containing the names of the many subscribers to the gifts which included a Wedgwood china dinner service and an electric percolator, and a bouquet was handed by Miss Loretta Cunningham to Mrs Shaw, who was herself at one time on the Bruton Street staff. After thanking his colleagues for their gifts Mr Shaw spoke with witty reminiscences of his early banking days and of his 25 years as Manager at Bruton Street. Shortly before his retirement Mr Shaw was entertained to lunch by the General Management. He entered the Bank in 1919 at Lombard Street and received his first signing authority at Hanover Square in 1932. After two years with the visiting inspectors he was appointed Manager at Kensington High Street in 1936, becoming Manager at Bruton Street three years later.
Martins Staff member (and roving photographer) Dave Baldwin, brings us another shot of one of the Bank’s London Branches that is still alive and well in the Twenty-First Century. Sadly, technology has demanded a few changes to the building and the fine windows are gone…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/3350	Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Dave Baldwin 2014



*Mr E C Shaw* *Manager* *1939 to 1964*	*Mr J S Anderson* *On the Staff* *1947 to 1947*	*Mr J A Richards* *On the Staff* *1948 to 1949*	*Mr D J Sims* *Joined the Bank Here* *1948 to 1950*	*Mr J A Young* *Joined the Bank Here* *1953 to 1954*	*Mr J H Embray* *Joined the Bank Here* *1953 to 1954*



*Mr A J W Wastell* *On the Staff* *1954 to 1962*	*Mr N Mereweather* *Pro Manager* *1955 to 1961*	*Mr R J Allen* *Joined the Bank Here* *1959 to 1963*	*Mr K F Postle* *Manager* *1964 onwards*	*Miss Pamela Crowley* *Staff Member* *1967*

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11-32-20 London Bruton Street

Full Branch

11 Bruton Street Berkeley Square London W1X SDN

448 London

Mon to Fri 1000-1500

Saturday 0900-1130

01 629 0172 / 6817

Nightsafe Installed

Mr K F Postle Manager

Bruton Street is included in Martins Bank’s London Account Number Allocation, where Branches due for automation are given “significant digits” to identify them by account numbers issued. The day’s work of this particular Branch will be identified at the London Computer Centre by the significant digits 30.

London Brompton Road

June 1940

15 December 1969

2009

22 February 2019

Opened by Martins Bank Limited

Barclays Bank Limited 20-14-80 Bruton Street

Re-Named “Mayfair” Branch

Closed permanently from 12 noon

London Chief Overseas