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Opened in 1961, Martins Bank’s branch at Sheffield Moor is
new and purpose built, occupying space left in the Sheffield Moor area by the
bombing of the second world war. Time flies however, and more than fifty
years on, the building is empty and awaiting the next chapter of its
life. We are immensely grateful to
Robert Dagnall for two modern day images – one of the night safe, still
proudly bearing the name of Martins in the new century and shown below
(right), The other image can be seen our “then and “now section, and shows
the building as it is today. |
In Service: 1961 until 27 April
1973 Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections |
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Our feature on this page
takes us back to the beginning, and the optimism of the new branch, Martins
Bank’s FOURTH in
Sheffield… Our
New Branch at Sheffield Moor owes its existence to the extensive replanning
of this area of Sheffield. Part of it was destroyed during the war and the
remainder has been or is in course of being pulled down as the plan unfolds
for the creation of a brand new shopping area. It is really too far from the
old commercial quarter to be effectively served by our branch at West Street
and so the banks are moving in.
Ours, as the illustrations show better than any amount of descriptive
wording, is a beautiful modern building with interior decor which responds to
the full blaze of sunshine most cheerfully, or, on a dark day when the
illuminated ceiling has to be switched on, creates an oasis of light, warmth
and welcome which makes it a pleasure to step inside. |
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Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection |
Image © Barclays Ref 0030/2613 |
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On the day of our visit, October 5th, we called in
at our West Street branch to renew acquaintance with the Manager,
Mr. E. D. R. Whittaker, and our friends on the staff, before proceeding to
the Moor. The Manager, Mr. D. O. Richardson, B.A. (Comm.), is no stranger to
us, nor is his wife both of whom we were delighted to meet again and to
entertain for lunch. Mr. Richardson is a great hockey enthusiast and it has
been on the occasions of the annual hockey matches between the Manchester
and Liverpool Districts that we have previously met him and his wife. They have a lovely family of three boys and
three girls and they have installed themselves in rather an exciting house
which has rooms at the back below the level of the road, so that on entering
by the front door you go down a flight of steps into another living room and
out through a French window into the garden—an excellent arrangement for confining the activities of the
young folk to one part of the house! Mr.
Richardson is a Manchester District man who entered the Bank in 1935 and has
previously served at Ardwick, Manchester City Office, Longsight, Great
Ancoats Street, District Office, and Altrincham before his first appointment
as Accountant at Blackburn in 1957. He served with H.M. Forces from 1939-1946.
He entered the Leeds District this year to open the new branch. Second in command is Mr. P. Pallister who
only entered the Bank this year after previous business experience. He gives
the impression of being a competent young man who will make his mark. Mr. P.
Hudson is the third male member. He entered the Bank at West Street,
Sheffield, last year. The female staff
is represented by Miss K. Robinson. She joined the Bank in 1959 at West
Street and was transferred to the Sheffield University branch last year, so
that Sheffield Moor is her second new branch. We formed the impression that
the staff are very much enjoying working at the new branch and they are
obviously very proud of it. |
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Broadly
unchanged but now in the shadow of a much larger building, Sheffield Moor was
only a Bank for twelve years. It is sad that this lovely modern building was
never going to be part of Barclays plans for the future in Sheffield… |
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Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection |
Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection:
Robert Dagnall |
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