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A magnificent building, Martins Branch at 59
London Street Norwich is deemed surplus to requirements when Martins and
Barclays merge. This is because of Barclays’
long-term connections with the area, and the resultant large number of
branches in the City, including one at 30 London Street. Unusually however, Martins Bank’s Branch is
retained by Barclays until 1976. From 12 December 1969 until 13 Februry 1970,
they are used as relief offices for 30 London Street, but not as a sub-Branch
or a self accounting sub-Branch. From 16 Feb 1970, the premises are once
more used as a Branch whilst alterations are made to 30 London Street. The news is much better however, for
the Martins sub-Branch at EATON AND CRINGLEFORD, which in 1969 is a newly built branch in a part
of Norwich where Martins is the first bank to trade. It is therefore very valuable to the owners
of the new name above the door, and it remains open until 9 November 2018,
just missing out on its fiftieth anniversary. On this page we journey through thick
fog to Norwich in 1949, and in 1969 we seem to have double vision!
Look out also in the branch details section for early examples of something
still quite new in the 1960s – POST CODES… |
In Service: 22 Aug 1946
to 12 Dec 1969 (Temporarily re-opened 16 Feb 1970
until 27 Mar 1970) Image ©
Barclays Ref: 0030-2128 |
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One of the worst fogs within living memory blanketed out Norwich
on the night of our arrival, November 15th, over an hour late, but Mr. C. E.
Moore, Manager of our Norwich branch, was waiting to guide us through the
gloom to our hotel. The warmth and friendliness of our reception by our
Norwich colleagues was ample recompense for the inhospitable welcome of the
raw Norvicensian night. Mr. Moore's bank service commenced in 1916 and he served
at Great Crosby, Southport, Head Office, Central, Aintree and Birkdale
branches before his appointment as Manager at Ormskirk in 1932. He opened
Norwich branch in 1946 and has worked up a very nice business there. She is keen, competent, and
as one would expect from her background and upbringing, thoroughly conscientious
in all she undertakes. She has recently started a Brownie Pack at St. Peter
Mancroft Church. Our plan of spending the evening in Mr. Moore's home was
defeated by the fog, but on the following day we had a very pleasant lunch
with Mr. and Mrs. Moore before continuing our travels. An outpost the branch
certainly is, its nearest neighbour being a trunk call away and if "o'er
heathen lands afar thick darkness broodeth yet" so far as knowledge of
Martins Bank is concerned, Mr. Moore and his staff are doing a very good best
to change the darkness into light.
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