11-74-80 South Shields Tyne Dock

Dale and Company of South Shields opens a Branch at Tyne Dock, some time before 1892 when its business dealings are amalgamated with those of the North Eastern Banking Company. From that point by the process of further amalgamations Tyne Dock arrives into the possession of Martins Bank Limited. Not surprisingly by the 1960s, a number of North Eastern Branches need a long awaited refurbishment, and Tyne Dock is rebuilt in 1961.

In service: pre 1892, rebuilt 1963 – 16 March 2012

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

The original branch address is listed as 551 Stanhope Road, but by the time that Tyne Dock is featured as one of the “new branches for old” in Martins Bank Magazine, the demolished and rebuilt premises are known as 17 Boldon Lane. Building the new branch takes a number of months, and whilst the work is carried out, the Bank takes temporary premises over the road at 8 Boldon Lane. Sadly, many buildings that today would be considered aesthetically pleasing and worth saving, are bulldozed and replaced with concrete and glass as far as the eye can see. We must remember however, that to this point people have worked in sub-standard offices for a very long time, and the promise of newer, brighter, more sanitary and infinitely more comfortable work surroundings is too good to turn down. The sheer optimism of early 1960s design also shows through, as some twenty years after the end of the War, the old is finally shaken off and the new is firmly embraced, even if that new consists of concrete and plastic. Martins Bank Magazine calls in to Tyne Dock Branch at the end of 1963, whilst on a whistle-stop tour of Martins’ North Eastern Branches…

We visited Tyne Dock where, as at WINGROVE, temporary premises were available during the alterations and where Mr J Shotton, though nearing retirement, is now enjoying branch management in surroundings which must have been worth waiting for. His own room and the main office are striking and spacious; upstairs, in addition to a Bank flat, there is a machine room in which one could swing innumerable cats. if the new office does not blend with its surroundings, it is because these have not changed for half a century or more, but it is hoped that they will one day come to blend with the branch and give the district a much-needed healthier look.

Image © Barclays Ref 30-2744

The Spring 1964 edition of Martins Bank Magazine also features Tyne Dock in an article written by the Bank’s Staff Architect, Mr D D J Silcock. Here he explains the thinking behind the policy of “New Branches for Old”….

1964 01 MBM.jpg The work of forming new branches from old presents its special problems. Where an existing branch is being altered but must continue to function on the site, it is necessary for the work to be staged. This must take into account the importance of providing reasonable banking and staff facilities throughout the whole period of the work. As the most convenient time for a change in stage to be carried out is at weekends, the contractor very often has to work round the clock so that the Bank can be ready for business on Monday morning. The staging of work is mostly felt by the managers and staff who, unlike the customers, are ‘with it’ all the time, and the tolerance and co-operation shown on these occasions are greatly appreciated. It sometimes happens that even when structural work is underway, unexpected forms of construction present unforeseen problems and delays. Party walls may be sub-standard and the remedy often proves expensive in time and cost.

NEW

BRANCHES

FOR

OLD

by D D J Silcock, Staff Architect.

Dark and forbidding - the interior of the original building.

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-2744

1964 Branch interior after refurbishment 3 - BGA Ref 30-2744

Bright and welcoming, the interior of the new branch

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2744

There have been cases where work on adjacent sites has had adverse effects on the Bank’s own work, such as basement flooding. While weather can often interfere with the work, the progress of a contract is always to some extent controlled by the ability of specialists to meet the agreed delivery dates. Some items require a considerable time from order to delivery in site, and when one remembers that very often the necessary dimensions are not available until the main structure is in position, it is easy to see that sometimes delays are very difficult to prevent. The story is not yet complete, for there will inevitably be teething troubles – a door or a drawer which will not close properly; a heating system which suddenly develops a jinx and tries to roast everybody, but these matters can be rectified quickly. Customers give their own critical analysis, usually of the design, and the staff, thankful to be free from dust and grit, add their opinions – a wall paper is changed. but that is another story.

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2744

The staff of the newly refurbished branch at Tyne Dock, as depicted in Martins Bank Magazine’s Spring 1964 edition.

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2744

One for the album…

Images © Martins Bank Archive Collections - D J Watson 1963/1964

We are indebted to friend of the Archive, Dave J Watson, who has kindly made these two images of the Tyne Dock Staff available. The colour image was taken in the new building in 1963, and belonged to his future wife Jacqueline (Patterson), who is seated rightmost in the line of ladies. The monochrome image is from a social event and features the staff of Tyne Dock branch at the Mayfair hotel Newcastle upon Tyne in 1964…



*Mr H Johnston* *Manager* *1909 to 1922*	*Mr H M Gibson* *Manager* *1925 to 1930*	*Mr T Mavin* *Manager* *1931 to 1954*	*Miss Winsome Harris* *On the Staff* *1946 and 1960 onwards*	*Mr A Cuthbert* *On the Staff* *1947 to 1947*	*Mr J Shotton* *Manager* *1954 to 1966*



*Mr G T Straughan* *On the Staff* *1956 to 1958*	*Mrs Valerie I Croft* *(née Redpath)* *Joined Here 1958 to ?*	*Mr G Peter Teasdale* *On the Staff* *1958 to 1962*	*Mr Sam Cross* *Joined the Bank Here* *1959 to 1964*	*Mr Alan E Spain* *On the Staff* *1960 to 1965*	*Mr A Clive Nicholson* *On the Staff* *1961 to 1964*



*Mr Martin B Williams* *On the Staff* *1961 to 1965*	*Mr Robert W Read* *On the Staff* *1962 onwards*	*Mrs Brenda Chalmers* *(née Poulter)* *On the Staff 1963 to ?*	*Miss Jackie Pitt* *Joined the Bank Here* *1963 to 1964*	*Miss Jacqueline Patterson* *On the Staff* *1963 to 1968*	*Miss Joan Clegram* *Joined the Bank Here* *1964*

			5	5	5

*Mr G Denis Richardson* *Manager* *1966 onwards*	*Mr M Cushing* *Pro Manager* *1966 to 1967*