11-62-40 Heywood

Bury Banking Company

Founded as a private bank in 1798, and with branches at Whitefield, Heywood, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom, the Bury Banking Company is registered as a limited company in 1880. The Bank runs into difficulty, and a large number of bad accounts, (remarkably referred to in the bank’s records as “sundry old accounts”!) result in £100,000 being transferred from reserves to make good the incurred losses. In today’s terms this is similar to the losses of the British banks hit by the “Credit Crunch”, and as a result the four branches of the Bury Banking Co are amalgamated within the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1888.

In Service: 1880 until 11 April 1980

1922 Heywood Branch Exterior as L & Y Bank PA.jpg

Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030/1300

This makes them amongst the oldest Branches inherited by Martins, and they are represented by fine buildings occupying prime trading positions. Heywood is open for one hundred years, closing in 1980. The Heywood Branch images on this page are a small selection from those left to barclays by Martins Bank. For our feature, we fast forward to 1969, and the very last full edition of Martins Bank Magazine. Despite the imminent mergerwith Barclays, the Magazine is on hand as usual to report another retirement gathering for one of the Bank’s long serving Managers. On this occasion it is Mr Hibbert, whose distinguished career ends with a seven-year stint as the Manager at Heywood Branch…

1969 Heywood Interior 3 BGA Ref 30-1300.jpg

1969 03 MBM.jpg 1962 to 1969 Mr A Hibbert Manager MBM-Au69P57.jpg An informal party was held at the Crimble Hotel, Rochdale, in June 27 to mark the retirement of Mr Alec Hibbert, Manager of Heywood Branch, after 44 years’ service. His career had begun at St Annes-on the-Sea, where he remained for sixteen years until his service with H M Forces. Then came twelve years at Preston Branch followed in 1958 by his appointment as Pro Manager at Blackpool and four years later as Manager at Heywood. Mr and Mrs Hibbert were hosts to fifty guests, and during the evening a cheque was presented to Mr Hibbert while Miss Alice Aspinall handed a bouquest to his wife. Mr N E Foster thanked Mr Hibbert for his service and congratulated him on the air of good humour and friendliness which prevailed at Heywood Branch. In his reply Mr Hibbert thanked his staff for their loyalty and his colleagues for their good wishes. He and his wife intend to stay in the area where they have made many friends.

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

2 Church Street

DISTRICT BANK LIMITED

1 Market Place

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

29 Market Place

YORKSHIRE BANK LIMITED

1 York Street



Mr C K Holden On the Staff 1916 to 1919	Mr Harold Blundell Joined the Bank Here 1917 to 1926	Mr F C Hardman On the Staff 1927 to 1927	Mr Fred Mellor Manager 1938 to 1946	Mr A Hibbert Manager 1962 to 1969	Miss A Aspinall Retiring from the Staff 1969



Mr R W Kitchen Manager 1969 onwards