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  Many
people associate Hull with fish which comprises only one fiftieth of the 10 million tons of cargo handled
there in a year—a figure which, in value, places the port third in England
after London and Liverpool. One third of the country's wool trade passes through
Hull which, besides being the gateway to the Continent, acts as ocean
terminal for a 450
mile network of inland waterways. Industry there is booming and with rare
imagination the less attractive, smelly ones are confined to the banks of
the Hull River running northwards out of the city. Engineering and
metalwork predominate but timber, woodworking, chemicals, cement, paint,
oil and milling figure largely. And fish. There is a Fish Street in Hull;
there is also a Blanket Row and a Sewer Lane, the latter being more than
offset by the striking Paragon Street. It is,
however, in the old part of the town near the junction of the Hull and the
Humber, where in 1293 King Edward I acquired the trading settlement of
Wyke, later to become King's Town, that one senses the real history of
Hull.The business expansion at Story Street—our first incursion seven years ago into
the shopping centre— has brought problems not only of staffing but of
space.
 Fortunately the main office, with a greater volume of work but
a less hectic counter, has ample room. Even so it has the problem inherent
in being the largest branch in a wide area and, not surprisingly, is
looked upon by smaller branches as the benevolent big brother.
No mention of Hull would be complete without reference to the independent
Corporation Telephone Undertaking which provides a business line with
unlimited calls for only Ł50 per annum and a similar private line for Ł20. In addition,
by dialling the appropriate numbers, one may obtain road reports for a 50
mile radius, weather reports for seaside resorts, a local entertainment
guide with excerpts from sound tracks, the current 'pop' favourites, a
cookery recipe, or a bedtime story for children who at Christmas time can
even hear a story recorded by Santa Claus. But then Hull has lots of ideas—Hull Fair, for instance, which lasts a
whole week. It has plans too —for more trade, industry, houses, schools and
docks. It is a spicy, vigorous place out in the country at the end of the
road to nowhere. A land of green ginger. Perhaps that is how Henry VIII saw
it too.
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In the
news…
In 1964, after a spell working at Liverpool District
Inspection team Mr G E Jones is appointed Clerk in Charge at Hull, Story
Street Branch. Almost two years later, he features in local paper The Hull
Chronicle, which is running a series about local businessmen and traders.
Technically Mr Jones is not a Bank Manager, and actually has to answer to
one himself. However, appearances are everything, even for the Bank, and
the Chronicle is happy to perpetuate the idea that Mr Jones IS Manager…
Image ©
Martins Bank Archive Collections
 Mr. Geoffrey E. Jones, Manager of
Martins Bank Ltd., Story Street, Hull, is married with two children and
resident in Kirkella. Prior to coming to the city in September, 1964, he
was a member of the Inspection Staff at Martins Bank Head Office in
Liverpool. He is a member of Hull Golf Club, Hull Badminton Club, is
Treasurer of Hull and Humberside Round Table. Mr. Jones also enjoys
swimming and watching Rugby Union.
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Branch
Images © Barclays Ref 0030/1389
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