John Oram's photos with the keyword: Closed Bank

The Bank Hairdressing, 1-3 Bigby Street, Brigg. Formerly a branch of Lloyds who now operate from a branch at 69 Wrawby Street. TZ70_2_P1000839E

Victor Finance, 14 Market Place, Brigg. Formerly a branch of NatWest. TZ70_2_P1000840E

The offices of solicitors and estate agents ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan at 99 Ferry Road, Leith are situated in another former bank, in this case Royal Bank of Scotland, North Leith Branch (see inscription above front door). TZ70_2_P1000309CE

Ratcliffe & Bibby Solicitors, 44 Market Street, Carnforth. It is often easy to spot a former bank by architectural style but easier still when the word 'Bank' is engraved above the main entrance. 44 Market Street used to be home to NatWest. TZ70_P1000283CE

The destruction of the UK's bank branch network continues with the familiar consequences for communities and for the state of our high streets and town centres. The banks have created a self-fulfilling prophecy of low footfall which they then use in a rationale for further closures. Having set a benchmark for IT failure as recently as 2018, TSB has, as part of its recovery programme, accelerated and expanded its branch closures. The Fareham branch, at 123 West Street, which closed on 22 October 2020, actually had very good customer service but was constrained by lack of space - particularly difficult to manage during the Covid pandemic - and had no ATM. A notice on the door reads, rather disingenuously, 'We're closed, but we're still here to help'. This is a part of West Street already blighted by retail closures. A branch of LCE (London Camera Exchange) at number 135 stood empty for at least two years after its closure in 2015 and this is an established pattern for commercial property in Fareham and beyond. TZ70_P1030111E

Former Lloyds Bank, 19-21 High Street, Southampton. 200_3_P1120920E

The NatWest bank at 12 High Street, Southampton (corner East Street) closed on 31 August 2017. Like so many other closed banks, it stands empty nearly three years later. 200_3_P1120919CE

This building at 193 Shirley Road, Shirley, Southampton (corner Howard Road) is clearly a former bank but now houses, rather discreetly, at least three flats. The inscription over the door, 'Established 1833' is likely to refer to the erstwhile National Provincial Bank and I assume the branch became a National Westminster even if it did not survive to see NatWest (sic) branding. The closure appears to have been too long ago to easily be traced online. 200_3_P1120844CE

This rather utilitarian looking building at 8 Shore Road, East Wittering is not as readily identifiable as a closed bank as some but it was a former branch of Lloyds which closed on 10 October 2018. My research indicates that the branch in nearby Selsey closed on the same day. This is a dismal performance by Lloyds although they are by no means alone in their actions. Banks usually trot out a rather depressing rationale for branch closures but the authors of so-called closure review documents seem not to be familiar with the term 'self-fulfilling prophecy'. Furthermore, the blight left on towns and cities by the long term disuse of commercial properties cannot easily be countered. This building has, according the the estate agent's sign, a self-contained three bedroom flat above. 200_3_P1120678CE

If buildings can be cute, this falls into the category. Unfortunately, being vacant is not cute and my views on bank closures and vacant commercial property are well documented on this site. I could not find an exact closure date online but 150 High Street, Selsey was formerly a branch of NatWest. More importantly for the aficionado of banking history, this was, earlier still, a branch of Westminster Bank. The Westminster merged into National Westminster (later NatWest) as long ago as 1970. Although it is not clear in this picture, the removal of the NatWest fascia has left visible the shadow of the words 'Westminster Bank Limited'. 200_3_P1120682CE

The branch of Lloyds Bank, 2 Winchester Road, Basingstoke (corner Church Street) closed on 7 January 2019. Unlike in many towns there remain in the immediate area a number of other bank branches. The rather splendid building has presumably been vacant since closure. TZ70_P1010796

The Safe, 18 Winchester Street, Basingstoke describes itself as 'A place to be family' and offers a variety of drop-in and appointment services. Although indistinct in this photograph, the outline of the words 'National Provincial Bank' can be seen below the roof line. National Provincial Bank merged into National Westminster Bank as long ago as 1970 and I imagine the building has seen a number of uses since then. TZ70_P1010795R

Plum @ the bank, 38 Fore Street, Buckfastleigh, Devon. The style of the name of this hairdressers varies according to the social media site on which it appears but the important thing from the point of view of my content is that it occupies another former bank, Lloyds. To the left, the night safe survives and there is evidence that the Lloyds Bank sign, although clear enough, had at one time another sign screwed over it. 200_3_P1110453E

The Sainsbury's Local at 266 Pentonville Road, London, N1 has the unmistakable architectural features of a former bank and was, in fact, a NatWest. The night safe can still be seen (centre) and the ATM is now branded for Sainsbury's Bank. TZ70_P1000382

The Devon Air Ambulance charity shop, 9 Market Street, Tavistock is located in a former bank, the first in Tavistock, as indicated on the plaque. In more recent times, the building has housed various occupants including, possibly, Trustee Savings Bank in their original incarnation. This requires verification. Photographs and direction by John Oram Editing in Photoshop by Gregory Halse 200_3_P1070340_OL

Standing solidly but empty on Victoria Place, Axminster, the former NatWest closed on 30 May 2018 to be followed in June by branch closures in Chard and Sidmouth which much reduces the presence of the brand in a relatively small area. The HSBC, now Morton's Pharmacy , in Axminster closed some while ago so that now, as far as I know, only Lloyds and Santander survive to serve a busy town. The Lloyds will, reportedly, close for three weeks soon for conversion into a counterless branch. 200_3_P1070320E

The Morton's Pharmacy fascia, although pretty standard, looks a little incongruous on what is obviously a former bank. This attractive building on Trinity Square, Axminster was an HSBC and, formerly, Midland Bank. Nearby, the former NatWest closed on 30 May 2018 leaving, as far as I know, only Lloyds and Santander in this busy Devon town. The Lloyds will, reportedly, close shortly for three weeks to be converted to a counterless branch. 200_3_P1070315R

Yet another bank closure, this time affecting Havant. The notices in the windows at 48 West Street advise that the 'nearest' branch of HSBC is at 312 London Road, Waterlooville which is not close. HSBC seems to me to be one of the worst banks for closures. This branch existed, I think, for a little less than five years as it is recorded in a photograph I took on 13 August 2012 shortly after it was converted from a Halfords store. 200_2_P1150435E_OL