11-468 Liverpool South John Street

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Adelphi Bank

The Adelphi Bank has branches in both Manchester and Liverpool, and its Head Office is at 19 South John Street Liverpool. In 1892 the bank has new premises built in Castle Street, and divides the work of Head Office between South John Street and Castle Street. The Adelphi Bank merges with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1899, and comes to Martins in 1928.

The image below shows 19 South John Street in its days as one of the Liverpool Branches of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. Sadly, this lovely building is completely destroyed by enemy action in May 1941. It was originally anecdotal evidence that told us all that remained was the safe – the walls and reinforced roof of which could be seen standing a good few feet ABOVE ground level. Then we unearthed this advertisement (right) from the end of the war which provides photographic evidence. It is hard to believe that this beautiful solid statement of security could be taken down in only minutes.

In Service: 1890 until May 1941, destroyed by enemy action

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

Extract from Martins Bank Limited Annual Report and Accounts for 1929 – © Barclays

Images © Martins Bank Archive Collections

Sadly, but not surprisingly the decision is taken NOT to rebuild, and the accounts and staff are shared with other branches. Whilst there is no period image of South John Street as a branch of Martins Bank, we do have below (left) a lithograph from 1922 showing the building under the ownership of the Lancashire and Bank. You can of course read much more about Martins Bank’s involvement in both World Wars, including details of the other Branches hit or destroyed by enemy action, by visiting our Martins at War sections. Simply click on the leaflet shown here (left). Given the demise of South John Street so early in the history of the modern-day Martins Bank, very few images remain of the branch, its staff and its stationery, but Martins Bank Archive is fortunate to hold a cheque book containing a number of unused cheques, which was issued for use in October 1940, and from which the images above are taken…

In 1964, Martins Bank Magazine unearths this photograph of the South John Street Football team, taken in 1933. This is a stark reminder of the number of staff members who will have worked at this branch, and for whom alternative places of work had to be found after the destruction of 1941.

The South John Street

Branch Football Team 1933

Left to right- J Kitchen A Pope

W Elkes (Messenger}

L J Walton A Tunnington

E S Sexton F T Pritchard

J A C Monahan J Walton

O S J Goulburn W R Waning

Those GREEDY Bankers’ Bonuses!

Much is said in the Twenty-First Century about “bankers’ bonuses” - and most of it derogatory – we would do well to look at a time when such reward was fully justified, and not over the top either in terms of amount, or reason. In December 1941, the Liverpool Blitz rained down on the city, and following the loss of much of Liverpool’s South John St – including the Bank’s Branch – to the Luftwaffe, Martins rewards Mr A Corkill, a member of the staff, with a bonus of £20. Under normal circumstances, the amount would be added to salary, but as Mr Corkill is serving in the armed forces, it can only be paid as a bonus.

Nevertheless, £20 at Christmas 1941 must have been most welcome, and will have probably paid for as good a Christmas as was possible under the constraints of Wartime Britain. According to the historic inflation calculator at www.thisismoney.co.uk, £20 in 1941 was worth around £1100 in 2019.

Our thanks to friend of the Archive, Stephen Walker, for this copy of the letter written to Mr Corkill, advising him of his bonus. Note that by December, the Branch notepaper has been altered to give the temporary address of Liverpool City Office Branch. This will have remained in place until the sad decision was taken not to find alternative premises.

1941 Dec 22 Staff Bonus Award Letter to A R Corkill - Stephen Walker MBA.jpg

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections - Stephen Walker



*Mr B Bithell* *Joined the Bank Here* *1922*	*Mr A Tunnington* *Joined the Bank Here* *1923 to 1931*	*Mr F M Winfield* *Accountant* *1924 to 1934*	*Mr R L Couper* *Joined the Bank Here* *1927 to 1931*	*Mr G H Grimshaw* *Pro Manager* *1929 to 1932*	*Mr R H Price* *Staff 1932 to 1934* *Accountant 1934 to 1936*



*Mr L J Walton* *On the Staff* *1933*	*Mr O S J Golbourn* *On the Staff* *1933*	*Mr H C S Whalley* *Joined the Bank Here* *1934 to 1941*	*Mr W R Gordon* *On the Staff* *1935 to 1938*	*Mr R C Eastwood* *Assistant Manager* *1938*	*Mr S C Brayshaw* *On the Staff* *1940 to 1941*



*Mr J R Whittle* *Assistant Manager* *1941*