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Martins opens its original Taunton
Branch opens in 1938 at 21 FORE STREET. By the
mid-sixties the Bank is looking for a more prominent spot from which to do
business, and moves up the road to number seven, a grand building previously
owned by Lloyds Bank. Do not, however, be fooled
by the traditional conservative exterior – on the inside the new branch is given the full swinging sixties
treatment, as we shall see in the images below which are from the Barclays
collection. We have no recorded visits
to No 7 Fore Street by Martins Bank Magazine, but in 1949 they do feature the
original Branch. You can read more by clicking on the link to 21 Fore Street
shown above. We
think by the way, that this rather strange object seen floating just above
head height is some kind of lampshade.
At the same time it does look scary enough to start floating around
the office following and checking up on people as they do their banking –
perhaps it was inspired by 1960s TV dramas such as “The Prisoner” or “The
Avengers”? - who knows… |
In Service: 24 February 1964 until 25 February 1983 Image
© Barclays Ref 0030-2889 |
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The giant sinister floaty
thing is seen here (above, right) from another angle, as we look from behind
it and back across the banking hall to the door. A clash of décor, and some squeaky
chairs to embarrass nervous customers whilst they request an overdraft. Here, and in the image of the counter
below, ashtrays abound in the day when smoking was known to be dangerous, but no-one seemed to care… Bank - Good condition, four careful owners…
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For staff details prior to 1966, please visit 21
FORE STREET Branch
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