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The area in and around
Middlesbrough is so linked with the North-East of England, that sometimes
it’s hard remember that it is historically part of Yorkshire. This is Martins
Bank’s Linthorpe branch in the 1930s, and like many from this period it has a
basic shop window with a curtain to offer some semblance of privacy for
customers from the gaze of those in the street. The window lettering of the
word “BANK” is reminiscent of banks
shown in American Westerns – Whether or not customers would turn up here in
Stetsens and boots with spurs on, and “hitch up their critters” to a post
outside is a question we find difficult to answer! |
In Service: 1 November
1927 until 22 November 1985 Image
© Barclays Ref 0030-1894 |
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Locating a branch in a
rented shop unit is forward thinking for this time, and since 2007 Barclays
has itself been moving out of freehold traditional bank styled premises into
rented shop fronts that can be moved if the “footfall” of customers
changes. Opened in November 1927 by
the Bank of Liverpool and Martins, Oxford Road Linthorpe sub-Branch lasts
until 1985, when along with Middlesbrough Parliament Road, it is closed
forever. Not self-accounting, but open
full banking hours over six days, this is likely to have been a busy little
branch in Martins’ day… |
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