Three Towns Forum

The Local => Times Past => Topic started by: Llechwedd on March 22, 2011, 12:15:45 pm

Title: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Llechwedd on March 22, 2011, 12:15:45 pm
Anyone know if there was a shop possibly a butchers owned by J M Holliday?  Found a glass bowl impressed with the name and Llandudno.  May have been a jelly mould or for brawn.
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: suepp on March 22, 2011, 08:30:07 pm
Hi Llechwedd, great find!

had a look on the census returns and there is a John M Holliday 52 listed at Deepdale, Deganwy Street, Occupation Potted Meat (or could be peas, but most probably meat!)  Manufacturer working from home! Originally from Wreckington Northumberland living with wife Anne 52 originally from Congleton and daughter Nellie 15 born in Colwyn Bay and Ann Brittan mother in law. 79 from Artbury Cheshire
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Bellringer on March 22, 2011, 08:38:02 pm
That's brilliant Suepp. - well done.

BTW I think you might have meant ASTBURY NOT ARTBURY, Astbury being near Congleton.
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: suepp on March 22, 2011, 08:49:23 pm
Thanks Bellringer, ))* it's hard to tell r from s on the entry written in copperplate!
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Llechwedd on March 25, 2011, 10:54:44 am
Thanks a lot for that Suepp.
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Trojan on May 25, 2011, 01:55:49 am
Some photo's from Paynes Cafe Royal:

http://members.multimania.co.uk/paynesphotos/ (http://members.multimania.co.uk/paynesphotos/)
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Trojan on May 25, 2011, 02:03:04 am
The DJ from Paynes, Dick Collinson shown in the center on this photo is still going strong and now lives in Bristol:

http://www.dickcollinson.co.uk/ (http://www.dickcollinson.co.uk/)

Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: DaveR on May 25, 2011, 08:22:02 am
From 1960:

[smg id=1678]

...and 1972:

[smg id=1744]
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: DaveR on May 25, 2011, 09:07:46 am
Some photo's from Paynes Cafe Royal:

http://members.multimania.co.uk/paynesphotos/ (http://members.multimania.co.uk/paynesphotos/)
Some good photos, shame about the pop up adverts floating around the screen.

When did the Cafe Royal close?
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Barbiroli on May 25, 2011, 11:50:46 am
Is that your dad on the right of the photo Trojan?
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Trojan on May 25, 2011, 04:58:50 pm
Is that your dad on the right of the photo Trojan?

It does look like him doesn't it Babs?   8)
Title: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: wjones74 on June 03, 2011, 07:25:56 pm
Anyone Know where this company was based ? , were they iron mongers?  $thanx$
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 03, 2011, 07:43:56 pm
Builders Merchants, in Bay View Road, Colwyn Bay. It's where the car cleaning place is now:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/3355618549_321e8f215b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36353446@N02/3355618549/)
Edward Boase & Sons Bay Veiw Rd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36353446@N02/3355618549/#) by Davecolwyn (http://www.flickr.com/people/36353446@N02/), on Flickr

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/3356425458_321ec6ed8d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36353446@N02/3356425458/)
E Boase & Sons Back Bay Veiw Rd (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36353446@N02/3356425458/#) by Davecolwyn (http://www.flickr.com/people/36353446@N02/), on Flickr

They also had a Timber Yard in Cwm Road, Llandudno.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 03, 2011, 07:48:20 pm
They were also based at the back of JBGS during the early sixties when I went to school.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 03, 2011, 08:03:59 pm
The business was originally set up as 'Boase & Hughes' back in the 1900s. The partnership between Edward Boase and Hugh Hughes was dissolved in 1919 and the business became simply 'Edward Boase'. At that time, they had premises in Bay View Road, Colwyn Bay. and Council Street, Llandudno.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 03, 2011, 08:37:07 pm
I would place it in Council Street West
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 03, 2011, 08:43:43 pm
Any ideas what is on the site now, Bri?
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: norman08 on June 03, 2011, 09:07:21 pm
 it was om cwm road on the land what is empty now opp  jewsons
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: wjones74 on June 03, 2011, 09:08:44 pm
covering my pipe! :-[
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 03, 2011, 09:10:00 pm
If you travelled up Council Street aka Norman Road and through that narrow bit, you would go straight across and the yard was there on the left hand side.

If you were to carry on, you eventually will see Securicor up on the right hand side before you get to Clifton Glass.

Apologies, DaveR, but I hope you can work out where I mean otherwise I will take to car over tomorrow and tell you exactly.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 03, 2011, 09:14:17 pm
This place?
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: suepp on June 03, 2011, 09:58:12 pm
from 1929
(http://)
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 04, 2011, 12:51:03 am
DaveR, it may have been on both sides of the road in that vicinity.

I can remember row upon row of laid-out timber.

BYW, did Council Street West become Builder Street as in suepp's advert?
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Hugo on June 04, 2011, 11:44:56 am
Council Street West and Builder Street are two separate streets and in fact Council Street West links with Builder Street West.

Edward Boase's yard wasn't always as big as it is now as I remember the railway to the Gasworks running across part of the land and at that time  Council Street West was a cul de sac on an unmade cinder track road
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Quiggs on June 04, 2011, 12:18:30 pm
With Llandudno Laundry next door ?
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Waffagolf on June 04, 2011, 02:23:22 pm
Mr Shread is standing at the back, Maureens Dad. He used to live on Bryniau Road near the corner of Trinity Avenue. Dick Collins used to work for the GPO in their depot on the Links Road by Rhos-on-Sea Golf Course. I think that's Edwin Starr in the picture (may be wrong though).
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 04, 2011, 03:06:08 pm
  I think that's Edwin Starr in the picture (may be wrong though).

That's who I thought it was but I was not confident to say so except if it is Edwin Starr then I was definitely at Paynes that evening for sure.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 04, 2011, 04:06:41 pm
With Llandudno Laundry next door ?

That was at the rear of the Boase yard on Council St West to the west of the railway branch tracks.
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 04, 2011, 04:15:34 pm
DaveR, it may have been on both sides of the road in that vicinity.

I can remember row upon row of laid-out timber.

BYW, did Council Street West become Builder Street as in suepp's advert?

The main entrance was on Cwm Road opposite the junction with Council Street, with the southern part of the premises bordering Council Street West.

I always remember Ronnie Atherton senior (RIP) working there, loading wagons with bags of Tunnel Cement on a blustery cold day with his shirt off. Strong as an Ox was Ronnie.

I'd often see him in the evening too, cycling home down Conway Road  from the RA Club after drinking 18 pints of lager.  $00$
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 04, 2011, 04:30:37 pm
The main entrance was on Cwm Road opposite the junction with Council Street, with the southern part of the premises bordering Council Street West.

This one?
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 04, 2011, 04:37:58 pm
That's it Dave!  :)
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: DaveR on June 04, 2011, 04:55:49 pm
You can still just about see the red painted letters that say 'TIMBER MERCHANT' on the left hand pillar under that wooden frame.
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Trojan on June 04, 2011, 09:00:49 pm
It's Bill Shred I believe - he ran the cloakroom and yes, it is the late Edwin Starr circa 1972.

John 'Concho' Davies is the doorman on the right. He used to run the place for Charlie Payne.
Title: Re: Businesses in the 3 towns area
Post by: Trojan on June 04, 2011, 09:38:22 pm
There's a few Paynes reunion video's on YouTube:

MARVIN GAYE LITTLE DARLING (i need you) PAYNES REUNION 8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0238a8H8UCM#)
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 05, 2011, 06:40:49 am
Behind where the van is parked in Dave's photo above, a goal can still be seen painted on the wall.

This was where the Council Street kids played football.

I remember a rivalry in the early 1970's between Kings Road in West Shore and Council Street, as to who had the toughest residents and I also remember a showdown between youths from both areas.

My money was always on Council Street.  $angry1$

Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: SDQ on June 05, 2011, 07:59:50 am
I was always of the opinion that the King's Road kids were the toughest when growing up. Living on the Orme I was sheltered from a lot that went on between the two streets until I went to secondary school but I have memories of the Kings Road lot coming up the Orme regularly to burn down our bonfire before November 5th so they could claim they had the biggest in Llandudno. This usually lead to a last minute pillaging of trees from Haulfre Gardens so we could rebuild ours in time.
The bonfire was usually held on the field at the end of the estate at Llwynon Rd which has a natural bowl shape at the end which was a good shelter from the wind. One year in particular we were building a huge bonfire when all these heads popped up along the top of the bowl end just like Indians in the wild west & the big kids from Kings Rd chased us off with the inevitable smoke signals as our bonfire bit the dust! Haulfre Gardens paid a heavy price that year but it was for a good cause.  Happy days!
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: suepp on June 05, 2011, 10:49:40 am
I used to play in my grandmothers garden on the corner and be scared stiff when a load of council street kids would suddenly appear on the high wall at the back, my grandmother would chase them away by running out of the house with a bucket of water poised to throw at them if they didn't scarper  WWW
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: suepp on June 05, 2011, 11:00:50 am
(http://)
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 05, 2011, 03:17:17 pm
I was always of the opinion that the King's Road kids were the toughest when growing up.

The Henders' and Ellis' would always give you a run for your money.  :laugh:
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: hollins on June 05, 2011, 05:17:18 pm
My husband has just asked me to pick up some glass tomorrow from Clifton Glass at Builder Street West!
I thought, I recognise that name after reading this latest thread!
I am sure someone will be able to give me detailed directions and photos?
Title: Re: EDWARD BOASE & SON ltd. Llandudno and Colwyn bay
Post by: Trojan on June 05, 2011, 10:26:05 pm
My husband has just asked me to pick up some glass tomorrow from Clifton Glass at Builder Street West!
I thought, I recognise that name after reading this latest thread!
I am sure someone will be able to give me detailed directions and photos?

http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/1066846-the-clifton-glass-co-llandudno (http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/1066846-the-clifton-glass-co-llandudno)

Give Jason McFadden my regards if he's there.  :)
Title: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Gav on June 14, 2011, 01:16:33 pm
Does anyone by any chance have any pictures or know what happened to Great Orme Cycles or Games Unlimited?

I remember seeing the owner from Games Unlimited working in Argos about 7 years ago. And as for Great Orme Cycles, did they even sell bikes? I used to get all my Action Force, Transformers etc from there back in the day and absolutely loved the place.
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: DaveR on June 14, 2011, 01:39:53 pm
Was Games Unlimited where the left hand side of the Fat Cat is now?
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Gav on June 14, 2011, 01:47:22 pm
That's the one Dave. Also, do you know if North Wales Video closed down because of poor business?
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Bri Roberts on June 14, 2011, 01:58:25 pm
Around 25 years ago I invested in a Life Membership of North Wales Video Services.

I can remember the number being L1096.

Am I entitled to a refund?
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: DaveR on June 14, 2011, 02:04:28 pm
I had one of those too. ;D  I remember North Wales Video first had a shop in Vaughan Street and then moved round the corner into Oxford Road. Didn't the guy that owned it have a beard? Most of the video rental places went to the wall once cheap dvds and sky movies arrived.
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Bellringer on June 14, 2011, 02:28:38 pm
Me too and still got the card somewhere!  It was run by Lenny Fitzgerald wasn't it?
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: DaveR on June 14, 2011, 02:39:25 pm
I just checked and the company 'NORTH WALES VIDEO SERVICES LIMITED' was only finally dissolved back in April. Directors were JOHN NEIL FITZGERALD and IAN KENNETH FITZGERALD.
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 14, 2011, 08:15:52 pm
Me too and still got the card somewhere!  It was run by Lenny Fitzgerald wasn't it?

I seem to remember the proprieter as "Lenny" Fitzgerald, perhaps Lenny was his nickname, or the two directors were family members? Yes Dave "Lenny" had blonde hair and a beard usually.

Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 14, 2011, 08:23:17 pm
That's the one Dave. Also, do you know if North Wales Video closed down because of poor business?

Probably the emergence and then popularity of cable and satellite television. Why go out to rent a video when you can do it from the comfort of your armchair?

The business also provided a convenient "tuck shop" for pupils of Ysgol John Bright, when it was located in Oxford Road. When the school re-located to a site off Maesdu Road, I should imagine they lost a significant amount of trade from school pupils.



Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 14, 2011, 08:30:40 pm
Does anyone by any chance have any pictures or know what happened to Great Orme Cycles or Games Unlimited?

I remember seeing the owner from Games Unlimited working in Argos about 7 years ago. And as for Great Orme Cycles, did they even sell bikes? I used to get all my Action Force, Transformers etc from there back in the day and absolutely loved the place.

Do you mean The Orme Cycle Company that was situated in Vaughan Street?

Yes, they sold bicycles. They also repaired bicycles. I remember taking bikes there for puncture repairs or derailleur adjustments, often performed by the gentleman with a noticeable "dent" in his forehead. My friends and I called him...."Dent head".

There was also a vast array of toys, pedal cars and Airfix scale model kits etc.

You would always find Orme Cycle among the adverts in the local cinemas before a film was shown. 
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Fester on June 15, 2011, 12:33:31 am
Ha ha ... Dent Head ... I love it.    L0L L0L L0L
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 15, 2011, 05:44:51 pm
Ha ha ... Dent Head ... I love it.    L0L L0L L0L

It was rumoured that it was a "war wound" but was never substantiated.

Apparently, he always wore a hat in the rain, not to keep his hair dry, but to stop a puddle forming on his forehead.  :-X
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: white rabbit on June 15, 2011, 07:26:45 pm
Didn't they sell prams as well?  I seem to remember my kids' pram coming from there
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 15, 2011, 09:05:10 pm
Didn't they sell prams as well?  I seem to remember my kids' pram coming from there

I think they did.

My pram was a Silver Cross similar to this one:
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Trojan on June 15, 2011, 09:18:18 pm
Here's an even older one on Llandudno promenade possibly in the 1930's:
Title: Re: Shops from the last couple of decades...
Post by: Fester on June 16, 2011, 12:02:58 am
Ha ha ... Dent Head ... I love it.    L0L L0L L0L

It was rumoured that it was a "war wound" but was never substantiated.

Apparently, he always wore a hat in the rain, not to keep his hair dry, but to stop a puddle forming on his forehead.  :-X
L0L L0L _))*
Title: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: emma p on August 21, 2011, 09:59:21 am
Hi all,
My nostalgic feelings continued yesterday and rooted out some old photos of holidays in Llandudno.
I found one which sparked a memory of the cafe with the beautiful gardens just under St.Tudnos. I am about 2 in the picture so very early 1970's. Theres me, mom, nan and grandad(Richard Roberts).
I remember always stopping for a milkshake and the pretty gardens. Can't recall what it was called though.
When were there a couple of weeks ago we parked outside St.Tudnos overlooking the place....obviously now residential.
Was it called the Rectory or something like that ?
My next picture to find is one of me on the beach on the north shore, with the steps down onto the sands. I presume those steps are still there underneath all those pebbles ?
 :D
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: norman08 on August 21, 2011, 10:07:41 am
hi emma yes they were the rectory gardens and always very colourfull, a local G P lives there now ,[i think he still does], and our once lovely north shore the steps are still there and the sand where we spent all day in the summers we used to have lol
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Nemesis on August 21, 2011, 01:07:17 pm
Same memory of the Rectory Tea gardens Emma and my Mum always bought a bag of their home grown tomatoes to eat later.
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Michael on August 21, 2011, 01:23:13 pm
I remember going to that cafe in 1951 or 2. I remember being on an early date with my first ex-wife. If only I had known how much it would cost me in future years LOL (I might add that the ex wife would laugh if so read this---theres nothing nasty in it)
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: DaveR on August 21, 2011, 07:53:32 pm
I used to go there as a child with my Parents in the 1970s too.  :)

[smg id=273]

[smg id=274]
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Bellringer on August 21, 2011, 08:18:29 pm
Yes DaveR those pics bring back some memories. It's hard to imagine how a piece of ground could possibly be changed so much between your pics and how it is now.

When it last traded as a cafe I think the people running it were called Appleyard or Applegate, and at some point didn't Don Wright have it too? He later ran the Cocoa House for a while - I remember dining in both.
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Yorkie on August 21, 2011, 08:30:43 pm
It is sacrilege what the new owners have done to the gardens!  The previous owners won award after award.    :rage:
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: emma p on August 21, 2011, 08:37:31 pm
AHH ! Thats it....what a difference eh !
Ill see if i can find anymore pics.
Thought how sad the place looks now.....mind you on the day we were up there anything would look sad the weather was sooo bad.
Shame really, cos its such a super spot. Now, if it was mine........... !!!!  ;D
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: DaveR on August 21, 2011, 09:01:15 pm
Here's another one, from 1984:

[smg id=2512]
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Bellringer on August 21, 2011, 10:34:09 pm
The flower border I always found striking near the road, was one where the flowers spelt out the letters of "The Rectory Tea Gardens".
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: Merddin Emrys on August 21, 2011, 10:56:40 pm
I used to go there as a child with my Parents in the 1970s too.  :)


me too! I also remember having cream teas at the house near the copper mine, near the half way tram station  D)
Title: Re: Cafe at St.Tudnos
Post by: SDQ on August 22, 2011, 08:12:06 pm
Pyllau Farm.
It was run by Mr & Mrs Williams who used to deliver milk to most of the houses on the Orme & surrounding area. I worked for them on the milk round for a few years as a kid, they both had vans and drove around with the back doors permanently open to save time & I used to stand at the back hanging on with the wind blowing in my hair.
The police would have a field day if they caught anyone doing it nowadays!
Title: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: dwsi on September 02, 2011, 08:03:10 pm
Llandudno http://bit.ly/pGpUUO (http://bit.ly/pGpUUO)

Colwyn Bay http://bit.ly/oeZvTs (http://bit.ly/oeZvTs)
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Trojan on September 03, 2011, 12:54:21 am
Good find dwsi.  &well&
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Bellringer on September 03, 2011, 05:20:13 pm
I worked until retirement for Barclays who took over Martins Bank in 1969.

I read the information with some interest. The Mr J D McIntyre pictured in the Llandudno details is still in the area obviously having been retired for some years. Apart from working at the Llandudno branch of Martins, he subsequently was the manager at the Barclays' Rhos on Sea branch.

In the Colwyn Bay details, the last manager prior to the Barclays' takeover, Mr J E Russell, subsequently became manager in 1969 of one of two Barclays branches in Wrexham where I was working. He died only last year.
Mr G S Cottier retired back to the Colwyn Bay area. He died about 3/4 years ago.
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Bri Roberts on September 03, 2011, 05:26:14 pm
Bellringer, Charlie Dowell offered me a car loan in Barclays in 1967.

Was he not the manager at that time?
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Bellringer on September 03, 2011, 05:57:16 pm
He was Bri. The Barclays branch was across the road from Martins where the Yorks. Building Society is now. After the Barclays takeover of Martins in 1969, the operations of both Martins and Barclays were concentrated in the current premises ie 84 Mostyn Street and Charlie became manager of the combined set-up.

AND THERE BEGAN AN ERA which ended in early 1984 when Charlie had to retire due to ill health.
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Yorkie on September 03, 2011, 07:02:53 pm
My OH worked at Martin's in Colwyn Bay for a while around the early 1960's and I'm always amused by her telling of all the various banks sending their messengers to swap cheques.   She didn't last very long and went off to France and Holland for a few years.     :D
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: DaveR on September 03, 2011, 08:45:48 pm
The Barclays branch was across the road from Martins where the Yorks. Building Society is now.
Never knew that!  :)
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Bellringer on September 03, 2011, 08:59:21 pm
And after the banking operations merged into 84 Mostyn St., the old Barclays premises ie where the Yorkshire is now, was occupied by Barclays Trust Co., which was later to close and then the premises used by the Building Society.
Title: Re: Martins Bank Ltd
Post by: Bellringer on September 03, 2011, 09:11:13 pm
My OH worked at Martin's in Colwyn Bay for a while around the early 1960's and I'm always amused by her telling of all the various banks sending their messengers to swap cheques.   

Yes Yorkie, this was called the local clearing system as opposed to the national system in London. The local system basically operated in towns where most of the major banks had a branch within 'walking' distance of each other. At the end of the working day, each bank would separate those cheques drawn on local banks which it had collected from its customers paying them in, and instead of sending them off to London would do the "swopping" on the following working day locally. That way local cheques cleared the following day as opposed to taking 3 days or more.

The local system I think from memory, ceased around the early 1970s.

BTW Did you know that the main cheque clearing system located to Trentham Gardens during the second world war - there is a plaque there in the gardens with the details. Perhaps they sorted the cheques while the dances went on in the ballroom!!