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Opened in 1887 by the Bank of
Liverpool, and closed on 26 July 2013 by Barclays, Martins Bank’s main
Birkenhead Branch at Hamilton Square is certainly palatial, the kind of
building that would provide a really good backdrop for a royal visit perhaps
– but is it really fit for a queen?
Well, yes, it is, as in 1957 our still nearly-new Queen and husband
Prince Philip pay a visit to this part of Cheshire. A picture is taken of the
couple which just so happens to have Birkenhead Branch in the background –
this proves of course irresistible to Martins Bank Magazine…
A
Royal wave…
Her Majesty the
Queen and Prince Philip on the balcony of Birkenhead Town Hall on the
occasion of the Royal Visit to Birkenhead earlier this year. In the background is our
Hamilton Square Branch.
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In service: 1887 – 26 July 2013
Branch Images © Barclays Ref: 0030-0197
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  On the afternoon of June 25th, a large
gathering of colleagues took place at Birkenhead branch to say farewell to
Mr. T. A. Grimes, on the occasion of his retirement from the bank after 44
years' service. Among those present were Mr. R. H. Price, Mr. A. Tunnington,
Mr. W. H. Home, Mr. G. Harrison, Mr. T. L. Thomas, Mr. S. N. Rimmer, Mr. G.
G. Dobell, Mr. G. Beckett, Mr. G. H. Shepherd, Mr. A. Wall Jones, Mr. W. H.
MacCormack, Mr. J. K. Washington, Mr. S. T. Rees and several retired
colleagues. The presentation of a cheque was made by Mr. T. A. Johnson,
Liverpool District General Manager, on behalf of subscribers. He paid a warm
tribute to the qualities which have endeared Mr. Grimes to us all, not the
least of which is his kindness to everyone. In his reply Mr. Grimes said that
he intended to buy himself a standard reading lamp and a picture. He treated
his listeners to some interesting reminiscences and concluded by referring to
the value of a sense of humour in a profession such as ours. Mr. Grimes
entered the service of the bank on January ist, 1903, at Kirkby Lonsdale. In
1908 he went to Keswick and in 1912 to East branch. From 1914 to 1919 he
served with H.M. Forces, resuming his banking career at East branch, where he
was appointed pro manager in 1922. In 1929 he became Manager of Wavertree
branch, and received his appointment as Manager at Birkenhead branch in
1935. In 1938 the branch at Neston also came under his managership. At the
conclusion of the formal proceedings the company was entertained to tea.
Apologies for absence were received from Mr. H. G. Herbert, Mr. A. Dan
Thomas, Mr. John Currie and Mr. W. Roberts.
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An
unbroken chain of command…
We were delighted
when former Martins Staff Member Ian Winkley got in touch and donated to
the Archive this image of SIX Managers of Birkenhead Hamilton Square
Branch. What makes the photo of great historical value, is that this is an
unbroken chain of the Managers who served between them from 1935 to
1975.
Both Ian and
his wife Elizabeth worked for Martins in the 1960s, and Mr H G Campbell,
the Manager on the far right of the photo, is Elizabeth’s father. The Managers are (from left to right):
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Mr T
A Grimes (1935 to 1947)
Mr J
K Washington (1947 to 1949)
Mr J
Edwards (1949 to
1959)
Mr A
W J Roberts (1959 to 1968)
Mr N
E Leach (1968 to
1975)
Mr H
G Campbell (1975 to 1979)
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Image ©
1975 Martins Bank Archive Collections – Ian Winkley
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Thanks to the amazing foresight of Robert Montgomery, who
began taking photographs of Bank branches in 2009, we have access to a
treasure trove of comparison images for Martins Bank outlets, as they were,
and as they were again before permanent closure.
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Image © Barclays Ref:
0030-0197
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It looks like the building was already up for auction
when Robert took this colour image of Birkenhead’s Hamilton Square Branch,
in June 2009 just four years before it was closed by Barclays.
Image © Martins Bank
Archive Collections – Robert Montgomery
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