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The Bank of Liverpool and Martins opens a Branch in
the High Street at Chislehurst in 1922, and it becomes the main Branch of the
Bank in the town. Prior to
this, the “Water Tower” Branch, at Chislehurst Common had been the only
branch of the bank there since 1886, and was an original Branch of Martin’s
Private Bank. When 57 High Street opens, the Water Tower Branch is
downgraded, surviving as a sub-branch until 1966 when redevelopment sees the
demolition of the Water Tower itself. You can read more about that Branch on
our CHISLEHURST
WATER TOWER page. By 1936 the premises at 57 High Street are
deemed no longer suitable for an expanding business, and the bank is minded
to move a few doors along to this corner building (right).
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In service: 1936 until 05 May 1972
Image © 1968 Courtesy: Bushell Collection
of the Chislehurst Society
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The splendid image of the Branch at 63 High Street shown
here, was unearthed early in 2019 by the Chislehurst History Society amongst
a collection of photographs they received. Our Bank makes a great backdrop to
the pageantry, which seems to involve most of the town out to enjoy
themselves! Just a little earlier – in
1965 – Martins Bank Magazine drops in on the retirement celebrations for one
of the Bank’s longest serving members of staff - Manager Mr Thorogood, who has been on the
staff for forty-five years…
  following
his retirement from the management of Chislehurst branch on 31
December, Mr Thorogood entertained some 90 past and present colleagues at the
Chislehurst Water Tower sub branch on January 5th. Mr H. Ryder (District General Manager), in a speech
during which he presented a cheque to which many of Mr Thorogood's old
friends had subscribed, made reference to the fact that Mr Thorogood had
entered the service of Cocks, Biddulph and Company in 1919 and was the last
to retire of those who had joined the private bank prior to its absorption by
Martins. Of his 45 years' service, 25
were spent as a manager, at Eltham from 1939 to 1952, and thereafter at
Chislehurst. He had taken a very active part in local affairs, from which he
would be greatly missed, and he had for many years been an enthusiastic
golfer and a keen supporter of the Bank's Golfing Society. Mr Ryder also reminded the guests that Mrs Thorogood, to
whom a bouquet was presented by Miss Hilary Elsegood, had been on the staff
of the Bank before her marriage and that their two sons, who have both been
in the Bank for some years, had married members of the staff. He closed by
expressing the hope of all present that Mr and Mrs Thorogood would have a
long and happy retirement in their new home at Ashford, Kent. In his reply Mr Thorogood entertained the company with
reminiscences of his early days in the Bank and an amusing account of some of
his wartime experiences. He closed by thanking his colleagues very warmly for
their generosity, and his staff for their loyal support over the years.
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 Our thanks go once more to the Chislehurst Society’s
History Group, for tracking down an almost fleeting glimpse of our
Chislehurst Branch on a Frith® Postcard from 1960, AND for taking for us,
the contemporary photo of the building as a Branch of Santander Bank…
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Image © 1960 The Francis Frith
Collection
www.francisfrith.com Ref
C97028 used here under licence
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Image © 2017 Martins Bank Archive
Collections – The Chislehurst Society
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