NW	NE	DUDDESTON	15	7th
SW	SE	117 Great Lister Street, Birmingham	D	1923

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, from April 12th 1920, 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 (and from the same date, Saltley) became a full-time daily branch.

 

With depositorship still progressing, a substantial reconstruction scheme was decided upon. Building Plans were lodged with the City's Engineer & Surveyor on July 4th 1922. During these alterations (which commenced on September 1st 1922), business was conducted in the front room of 119 Great Lister Street. The Bank having paid £1,000 for the freehold, the alterations cost an additional £1,115 (architect: Gerald McMichael; contractor: S Surman & Son). 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 seventh 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 £10 million in February 1929.)

 

In 1926, the Bank obtained possession of the adjoining dwelling accommodation and the City Surveyor prepared a plan for an extension of the branch; this work was carried out (at a cost of £1,800) by A Pearce & Son - the work being completed in 1927.

 

The branch was subject to a raid by armed robbers in  1960.

 

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.

(right of photograph)

Above: Distinguished guests inside the branch during the official opening ceremony include Neville Chamberlain

 

Right: Interior of Duddeston in 1923

below:

(with Great Lister Street on the left, and Little Francis Street on the right), and the revised interior. (August 3rd 1927)

Replacement premises: 1963

 

 

Interior of the branch, viewed from
the customer side of the counter (below - right)
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'