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What’s missing from
Maindee?
1959 has been a great year
for the Bank, and the story is proudly and lavishly told in that year’s
Annual Report and Accounts. The report
is produced as a glossy booklet littered with colour images showing many of
Martins Bank’s achievements and FIRSTS. (See also AN
ACCOUNT AT MARTINS BANK).
So what better time than now
to begin a new wave of branch openings in the southern parts of England and
Wales, showing everyone that not only is Martins Bank successful, but also
very definitely a NATIONAL bank, not the “Small Northern Operation” often
levelled at Martins by its competitors.
The Bank happens upon 145
Chepstow Road, formerly occupied by Frank H Rudduck, and the architects and
builders work their magic in Maindee. |
In Service: 1960 until 12 December 1969
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1787
Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030/1787
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On the inside the new branch brings the traditional
and open, friendly surroundings that Martins’ customers have come to enjoy
and expect. Plenty of wood, vinyl floor, suspended ceiling and mellow but
efficient lighting. Surely this state
of the art branch is enough to see off the Bank’s rivals? It is after all 1960 – who needs a stuffy
old stone ediface and darkened banking hall? Unfortunately for Maindee, the
branch is another of those created AND closed completely during Martins’ time
as a bank, and the doors shut forever on 12 December 1969. There’s sad now, isn’t it?
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As
they walk along the streets, do the people of the Newport suburb of Maindee
realise that what is missing from their lives is their own branch of Martins
Bank?
