11-93-20 Chatburn

Chatburn is a sub-Branch to Clitheroe, and this typical 1960s scene is neither to last nor change with the banking times as the Branch is closed by Barclays on the 30 October 1970. This is less than a year after the merger of Martins and Barclays Banks.

This is another fine example of a “terraced house” or “front room” Branch and is situated next door to Fred Burgess the “High Class” Butcher – very handy for some cold meat for that all important lunchtime sandwich! As a rule, Martins Bank Magazine does not visit sub-Branches, but on the way to Clitheroe in 1969 they do drop in at nearby Whalley sub-Branch, where they meet the two clerks responsible for running Chatburn - Roger Riley and Geoff Whitney…

In Service: 1921 until 30 October 1970

Branch Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0600

1969 03 MBM.jpg At Whalley sub-Branch we met Roger Riley and Geoff Whitney; Roger joined the Bank at Burnley four years ago and after a spell at Padiham, his home town, came to Clitheroe where he has a mobile sort of existence working between the other two sub-Branches at Chatburn and Gisburn. He is a member of the Padiham Photographic Club and is a keen artist. Although he had just passed his driving test he is not as enthusiastic about motoring as his colleague. Geoffrey Whitney travels in from Burnley each day and he too came to Clitheroe from Padiham. As well as a motorist he is a swimmer and a blue belt at judo. He hopes one day to work on computers.

A welcome return to normality…

Chatburn, like many of the smaller sub-Branches of Martins Bank, is mothballed for the duration of the Second World War. The reasons are varied, but mostly include a shortage of staff, even though extra female staff are drafted in to work as clerks in charge wherever possible. At the end of July 1946, an advertisement like this one (right), is taken out by the Bank to tell readers of the Clitheroe Advertiser that service is once more resumed…