The repair and decoration work at the Bank's Head Office does not appear to have been finally completed until late in 1949,
as indicated by the following summary of Correspondence relating to the replacement of the decorative glass windows.
February 13th 1948: John Hardman's Studios to T Cecil Howitt
The Municipal Bank, Broad Street, Birmingham.
With reference to our Mr Feeny's discussion on the site, with your Mr Woolley this afternoon, in connection with the restoration of the stained glass panels at the above, which were damaged by enemy action.
There are four rectangular panels and we estimate that to remove, pack and return these to our Studios, temporarily filling the opening with plain glass; to strip them completely, repaint and repair where necessary, reload, re-cement, return to the site and refix in place complete, will cost Two Hundred and Twenty Five Pounds (£225).
This estimate does not include for any work to the metal frames - which we understand is being carried out by Messrs Henry Hope and Sons Ltd, with whom we should thereafter collaborate during the progress of the work.
Awaiting the favour of your further instructions.
On February 21st 1948, Cecil Howitt & Partners acknowledged this estimate and stated that they were "considering this in detail
and will write to you further at a later date."
Consideration of the matter seems to have taken some considerable time, but presumably
included liaison with Messrs W J Whittall & Son Ltd (the firm that originally built the Broad Street premises); Henry Hope &
Sons (a firm based in Smethwick that specialised in metal windows); and Alf Maggs, the Bank's engineer. Cecil Howitt & Partners
wrote to the John Hardman Studios on December 22nd 1948 to say that they had "instructed Messrs W J Whittall & Son Ltd of Lancaster
Street, Birmingham 1, to place their order with you for this work at a total cost of £225. It should be noted that Messrs Hope Bros
are now removing the frame, for the purpose of straightening the bronze sections and making the necessary repairs to the casements.
We confirm Mr Maggs' instructions that you should carry out the necessary removal of the windows and delivery to your works for the
purpose of putting in hand the necessary repairs."
An accompanying letter stated that the "repair work and reinstatement of four rectangular stained glass panels" is to be within "the
terms and conditions of the Main Contract, which is the 1939 RIBA Form of Contract, as amended by the Joint Contracts Tribunal, 1945."
A
letter from Cecil Howitt & Partners, dated October 18th 1949, to the John Hardman Studios stated that "we are now nearing the
completion of the contract for the maintenance and repair of war damage .... and apart from certain amounts of making good to the
granite to the exterior, the rest of the builders' work has been completed. We are therefore anxious before leaving the site to have
the window re-instated and would like you to let us have a programme of the possible dates when you will be able to complete the windows."
This letter was followed up by a letter dated November 8th 1949 confirming that a Mr Hyde (of Cecil Howitt & Partners) would visit
the John Hardman's Studios on Saturday, November 12th. This visit may have led to the work being expedited as a letter from Cecil
Howitt & Partners to the Studios, dated November 23rd 1949, states that they will "get in touch by telephone with a view to meeting
you and inspecting the stained glass windows."