CRT130BED/110

The Bank on St Paul's Square. Notes compiled by Mr H.M. Ollis, who was the last manager of National Westminster Bank, St Paul's Square, when it closed in November 1973 amalgamated with the Cauldwell Street branch. The bank building started as a conglomeration of various manufacturing and retail businesses which continued from about 1779 until it was sold to Northamptonshire Union Bank (also known as the Bank of the Phoenix) in 1894. The bank had had a temporary office in St Loyes Street from 1889. Northamptonshire Union Bank was taken over by National Provincial Bank in 1920. With increasing competition the bank stagnated for a while between the world wars but did set up representation at Harrold, which continued, and Olney, which closed in 1939. The business began to expand when Mr H.D. Gibson was appointed manager in 1944 with premises being obtained in Sharnbrook and Kempston as well as within the newly established College of Aeronautics at Cranfield and in Cranfield village. National Provincial Bank merged with Westminster Bank in 1968 to form NatWest.

1779-1973

From: 1779 To: 1973

Old accession number 4722

English

item

Ollis, H.M.,
Gibson, H.D.

BEDFORD, Bedford St Pauls Square, banks, shops, Northamptonshire Union Bank Limited, National Provincial Bank Limited, National Westminster Bank, HARROLD, Olney, CRANFIELD, KEMPSTON, Cranfield College of Aeronautics