11-83-20 Liverpool Church Street

In 1884 the Bank of Liverpool opens a Branch at 30, then 48 Church Street. For the next sixty two years it is known as Liverpool Central. In 1933 the properties on Church Street are renumbered, and in 1946 following the departure of Manager Mr Drewsen, whose retirement write-up forms one of our features below, the Branch becomes known officially as Church Street Branch. This office is ideally placed to be the first branch of ANY bank in the North of England to be fitted with a cash machine. This takes place in 1967, and the type of dispenser used is the first in the world to use a plastic card and Personal identification Number (PIN).

Martins Auto Cashier(1) MBM-Wi67P12 You can read more about this amazing Martins first, and how it is announced to the local press HERE. At first this innovation is seen very much as a curiosity – the idea that a machine might replace a bank cashier is still almost science fiction. What follows, as we all now know is the gradual replacement of whole bank branches by machines and remote services including the internet. Images of the cash dispenser are few and far between, but you can see the exact model used being demonstrated in a wonderfully preserved film made in 1969 by ABC NEWS AUSTRALIA, who also seem to treat the idea of a cash machine with curiosity and some scepticism…

In Service: 1 December 1884 until 25 October 1991 (but see also foot of page)

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1664

At the time of the merger with Barclays, Martins has opened three cash machines, and has plans for many more, but all of them are scrapped and replaced by “Barclaycash” machines. Extra machines are installed to cope with the closure of Branches on Saturday mornings.

The Branch that “moved about” (- a lot!)

In what seems an incedible feat of dexterity, Liverpool Central/Church Street Branch manages to appear in offcial records and directories at no less than FIVE different addresses between 1884 and 1933. 30 Church Street is likely to have been a temporary address used to establish the new Branch of the Bank of Liverpool in 1884, whilst permanent premises at 50 Church Street were either being built or refurbished. However, two different directories of Liverpool, and the Liverpool Telephone directory place the branch at No 46, Nos 46-48, No 48 AND No 50 until in August 1933 the properties in Church Street are re-numbered, and the Branch finally settles down at No 84! You can read more about this in our Branch History Section at the foot of this page.

There is no official visit to Church Street Branch by Martins Bank Magazine, but we have found featured two articles: Originally entitled “Celebrities at the Counter”, this first one is very short and concerns a customer paying in some winnings at Church Street Counter in 1960…

1960 02 MBM.jpg Wendy Lewis and her sister Joy at the counter of our Church Street branch, Liverpool, paying in her winner's cheque to Mr. R. T. Forsyth shortly after the conclusion of Wendy's successful walk from John O'Groats to Lands End.

A “Joy”–ous occasion at Church Street Branch…

1946 02 MBM.jpg 1934 to 1946 Mr J B Drewsen Manager MBM-Su46P18 A large gathering numbering close on fifty present and former colleagues gathered at Central Branch at the close of business on 29 April to bid farewell to Mr J B Drewsen on his retirement after forty-nine years’ service with the bank. Speeches of tribute were made by Messrs. G O Papworth and T A Johnson, Assistant General Managers, and Mr R H Price Assistant Staff Manager. Mr Papworth then made the presentation on behalf of all subscribers of a tea service to Mrs Drewsen. The present of a fishing cabinet to Mr Drewsen was a token one, the actual gift not being ready. Among those present were Messrs. C P Williams, J Edwards, A H Nutt, W E Elliott, R G Kilshaw, F A Dew, J E Gorst, R C Wilding and Miss Ida Woolley. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs A M Jones, D D Lynch, H Dickman, H F Herbert, G Beckett and many others. Mr Drewsen entered the service of the bank at head Office in 1899, and received his first appointment to Manager at West Derby branch in 1910. He became an Inspector in 1921, and went as assistant manager to Central Branch in 1933, becoming Manager the following year…



*Mr F H Creer* *Joined the Bank Here* *1906 to 1910*	*Mr A J Wilson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1907*	*Mr A D Moncreiff* *Joined the Bank Here* *1916*	*Mr A H Shimmin* *Joined the Bank Here* *1916*	*Mr W D Armstrong* *On the Staff* *1916*	*Mr Alec R Ellis* *Joined the Bank Here* *1920 to 1923*



*Mr J V Dobie* *Securities* *1920 to 1925*	*Mr S J Johnson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1920 toi 1927*	*Mr W H Rogers* *On the Staff* *1920 to 1931*	*Mr S N Abraham* *On the Staff* *1924 to 1926*	*Mr J B Drewsen* *Manager* *1934 to 1946*	*Mr E J F Crawford* *On the Staff* *1935 to 1937*



*Mr D D Staunton* *Joined the Bank Here* *1937 to 1938*	*Mr R H Naylor* *Joined the Bank Here* *1945 to 1946*	*Mr B Woods* *On the Staff* *1946 to 1947*	*Mr B G McCausland* *Pro Manager* *1946 to 1947*	*Mr R L Couper* *Pro Manager* *1947 to 1949*	*Mr J Gribbin* *Manager* *1949 to 1953*



*Mr B Bithell* *Asst Manager 1949-58* *Manager 1958 to 1963*	*Mr K L Roberts* *On the Staff* *1953 to 1964*	*Mr J K Washington* *Manager* *1953 to 1955*	*Mr A D Gollifer* *Manager* *1955 to 1958*	*Mr K W T Crowden* *On the Staff* *1957 to 1962*	*Mr F P Wilson* *On the Staff* *1958 to 1959*



*Mr K Bonney* *Pro Manager* *1959 to 1964*	*Mr J M Lee* *Pro Manager* *1962 to 1965*	*Mr R F Creer* *Assistant Manager* *1964*	*Mr T T Wiliams* *Pro Manager* *1965*	*Mr J D Winckles* *Assistant Manager* *1965 to 1966*	*Cynthia Corner* *Cashier* *1966*



*Mr C M Summersgill* *Assistannt Manager* *1966 to 1967*	*Mr W D Ambrose* *Assistant Manager* *1968*