BMB

Although not justifying a full-time daily branch at September 1st 1919, the inner-city Duddeston area
provided sufficient demand for opening hours in excess of the weekly four-and-a-half hours of the
part-time evening branches. By the same staff working in conjunction with Saltley branch, an alternate
daily branch was conducted at 117 Great Lister Street. (Duddeston: Mondays; Wednesdays; Fridays -
Saltley: Tuesdays; Thursdays; Saturdays). Great Lister Street was a main thoroughfare in a district
densely populated with poor quality, back-to-back houses.

In contrast with the sober surroundings of private houses, institute rooms, and a library, as used for
temporary accommodation by other early branches, Duddeston had the distinction of starting life in a
former public house. The brass rails, high bar counter, the familiar seats, the old bar-parlour and
smoke-room, and embossed trade designs in the windows, all provided reminders that this used to be the
Highland Laddie. When the opportunity arose to purchase the old pub and the adjoining house, it was
possible to make slight alterations to provide more room, but nothing substantial was possible, owing to
the operations of the Rent Restrictions Act.

But the branch developed rapidly, and the hours were extended to:
- Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays....10:00 to 14:30
- Saturdays............................................10:00 to 13:00
- Monday and Saturday Evenings...........17:30 to 19:30
Tuesdays were then added to the days of business, and from November 1st 1920, Duddeston became a
full-time daily branch.

With depositorship still progressing, a substantial reconstruction scheme was decided upon. During these
alterations, business was conducted in the front room of 119 Great Lister Street. Upon completion of the
reconstruction, the branch was formally opened on March 17th 1923, by the Lady Mayoress (Mrs David
Davis), in the presence of a large crowd. The Lord Mayor and Neville Chamberlain, also attended the
opening ceremony. Duddeston became the Bank's eighth permanent branch.

Britain's First Municipal Savings Bank included the following, regarding the opening ceremony:
Speaking on this occasion, the Vicar of Duddeston appeared in the role of prophet, for he said that in
a few years the deposits in the Bank would be ten million pounds. Well, we have not quite reached that
figure, but we are in sight of eight million, so the Vicar can congratulate himself on his forecast.* A
generous and public-spirited action must be recorded in connection with this opening ceremony. Mr
Alfred Ford, a well-known builder, had announced his intention of opening accounts for eighty-two
boy scouts, who were lined up near the entrance doors. As soon as business commenced these scouts
filed up to the counter to receive from the hands of the Lady Mayoress, the Lord Mayor, and Mr
Neville Chamberlain, their pass books.

(* Total Bank balances due to Depositors passed Ł10 million in February 1929.)

Extension of the branch into the adjoining house was completed in 1927.

The 1963 Annual Report stated that 'The present Duddeston Branch in Great Lister Street is shortly to be
demolished under the Nechells Green Re-development Scheme and the business will be transferred to
premises in the new Vauxhall Road Shopping Centre.' The new address was 52 Revesby Walk; the
modern design incorporated a feature previously unheard of - carpets! The new premises were formally
opened by Councillor Mrs E L Hobson on July 26th 1963

Number of Open Accounts at March 31st:
1920 - 1,015
1927 - 8,966

Average Weekly Transactions:
1920 - 192
1927 - 998

Managers:
1928 & 1929 - E Price
1930 & 1931 - L A Wright

1963 - J E Ager
1965 - N Slater
1965 - N A Worwood
1966 to 1970 - E B Spencer
1971 - A Reed
1973 - L G Sharrard
1976 - D J Chapman
1976 - D W Hoccom
1977 - J M Longfils (Mrs)

The Highland Laddie public house
prior to its use by the Bank, and
(showing few alterations) when
used as temporary bank premises

The crowd assembled for the official
opening of the permanent branch on
March 17th 1923, includes some of
the Boy Scouts referred to above.
The branch was located at the corner
of Great Lister Street and Little
Francis Street (right of photograph)

The Branch's Commemoration Tablet

Interior of Duddeston in 1923

Following a second reconstruction to
incorporate 119 Great Lister Street,
this photograph shows the branch
with Great Lister Street on the left,
and Little Francis Street on the right.
(August 3rd 1927)

Interior of the branch in 1927

Replacement premises: 1963

The party assembled for the opening
of the new office includes (from left):
first - Jack Raftery
(Deputy General Manager);
third - Mrs E L Hobson (Chairman);
fourth - Jack Sutherland
(General Manager)

Interior of the branch, viewed from
the staff side of the counter

Interior of the branch, viewed from
the customer side of the counter.
The window behind the counter
proved to be a design fault from a
security aspect - robbers smashed
through it, traumatising the staff,
in the 1980s.
The branch's Commemoration
Tablet can be seen on the left wall,
just behind the counter. The wording
of this Tablet reflected the history of
the branch premises:
'THE ORIGINAL DUDDESTON
BRANCH WAS OPENED ON 17th
MARCH 1923 AND AS A RESULT
OF REDEVELOPMENT OF THIS
AREA THE BUSINESS WAS
TRANSFERRED TO THESE
PREMISES WHICH WERE
OPENED BY COUNCILLOR MRS
E L HOBSON, JP, CHAIRMAN OF
THE COMMITTEE ON 26th JULY
1963'