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This
image of Halton House,  20/23 Holborn was taken in 2016 by Dave Baldwin, Martins
Staff member and friend of the Archive, who has taken his trusty camera to many
parts of the country for us to obtain contemporary photographs of former
Martins Bank Building. Holborn is one of a number of key London branches for
which we are unable to trace any period photographs. Holborn is opened in 1946 at a time when
Martins is hungry for new sources of good credit balances from high new worth
customers.
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In Service: 19 July 1946 until 18 September 1970
Image © 2016 Martins
Bank Archive Collection – Dave Baldwin
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Unusually
for a large branch, no nightsafe faculties are listed in Martins Branches
Book, but Holborn is otherwise a full branch, operating six days a week, and
in the mid-sixties it is computerised along with around forty other branches
in and around London. If you have any
memories and/or images of our Holborn Branch, or indeed any of our branches,
please do get in touch with us at the usual address: gutinfo@btinternet.com. Not all retirements from the Bank can be
marked with a joyous occasion of celebration, and in 1960 when Mr E Livesey
retires, his final year as Manager of Holborn Branch has been overshadowed by
illness. The usual cocktail party is out of the question, but his staff and
friends do find a way to help mark their friendship and respect for Mr
livesey, as Martins Bank Magazine’s Summer 1960 issue explains…
 At
the end of March Mr. Livsey retired after 38 years' service which commenced
at Birkenhead in 1922 after graduating at Liverpool University with the
degree of Bachelor of Commerce. He spent the next few years at various local
branches—Water Street, East, Woolton, Linacre,
Heywoods, Formby and Southport. In 1937 he was appointed Manager of the new
branch at Bath, and here it was that he made his most outstanding
contribution to the progress of the Bank, Here it was that he was happiest,
as is proved by the decision he and his wife have made to retire to the
neighbourhood. After his success at Bath came his important promotion to
be Manager of Birmingham City Office in 1946, and then, in 1952, he went to
the London District as Manager of Holborn branch. His last year in the Bank was clouded by a severe illness
and in these circumstances the occasion of his retirement was kept private
and without formality. His friends up and down the service subscribed towards
a gift which took the form of a silver plated tray, suitably inscribed, and
this was presented at the branch. Mr. Livsey gave a small party to celebrate
his birthday and this was attended by members of the staff of the branch and
a few former members.
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