Martins Bank Longton Stoke-On-Trent 1951 to 1970

In 1951 Martins Bank opens a new branch in Longton which later closed in 1970 here's a look back of then and now.

It’s 1951, and Martins Bank opens a new branch (which it has been busy equipping and staffing since 1950 at 33 Market Street Longton, adding another office to the Bank’s Staffordshire portfolio, and strengthening the its foothold in the Potteries. The building has had many uses both before and after the arrival of Martins, and by the end of the twentieth century it is home to what is most kindly referred to as “a number of retail outlets”. The future of the British High Street seems permanently in the balance in the Twenty-First Century, with the “pop-up shop” literally here today, gone tomorrow

About the Manager
on January 30 Mr Dakin retired after twelve years as Manager at Longton and 43 years' service in the Bank. He had begun his career with the Lancashire & York­shire Bank in Bradford and moved to the North Eastern District in 1936. Ten years later, six of them with H.M. Forces, he moved to the Midland District and his appointment came in 1956. At his request there was no formal presentation but forty friends and colleagues joined Mr and Mrs Dakin at the branch, where the District General Manager, Mr Hollway, presented a handsome portable radio and a scroll listing the subscribers. Mrs V. Fox gave Mrs Dakin a bouquet. In his speech of thanks Mr Dakin said he had no firm plans for the future but felt that he and his wife might move at a later date to North Wales. He then invited his guests to a buffet meal. Mr Dakin was entertained to lunch at Head Office by Mr Maxwell, and by Mr Hollway at Midland District Office.