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The stone carving above the door to the Skipton Building Society branch in Albert Rd Colne has always intrigued me. I think at one time the building was possibly a branch of the "Union Bank of Manchester" but not quite sure what time period it would be. Any ideas?

Looks late 1800s early 1900s. Not as ornate as the one in Manchester. I am not sure that it is the same "motif" (can't think of the word) above the door as the Manchester one. Similar maybe.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

I tried googling Union Bank of Manchester and found the following old (2005) Rootsweb reference, relating to someone who had an ancestor who worked for the Bank.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=68958.0

What may be of use, is that this lead tells us that the Union Bank of Manchester became part of Barclays Bank, and in 2005 they had an archivist who was prepared to look things up. Maybe they still have?

Ruth

Thanks Ruth & Gloria, I've sent a request off to Barclay's Archivist. I'll just have to wait and see what comes back.

No reply yet from the archivist but a quick glance through some of the local trade directories showed the Union Bank of Manchester at 17 Albert Rd from 1896 to 1937. It may have been there slightly before and after these dates but I didn't have time to look through all the directories.

I didn't think they would be very quick to get back to you. Look forward to hearing the response though.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Good news from the Barclays archivist. Here is his reply.
"I can confirm that the branch at 17 Albert Road was indeed a UBM branch. It was opened on 18 July 1892, and closed wef 14 May 1971, following the merger of Barclays with Martins: evidently it was decided to keep the ex-Martins branch open and to close the ex-UBM branch. I attach a photograph of the branch taken around the time of its closure."

Great news. Look how black and old the buildings seem, and all the chimneys on the terrace houses. I thought "what an old photo" then realised it was the year before we were married.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Doesn't the stone clean up well.

So nice when they take the time to reply, and to include a picture. Icing on the cake.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Doesn't that make it an old photo Gloria - after all you've been married even longer than me and I've been married forever

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at

tust

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Good to see the Barclays/ UBM photo - and good to know that customer service still counts for something at Barclays.

I left Colne in 1961, when I was a young teenager and there were still enough mills open to keep the stonework nice and black!

Ruth

Just to correct a slight misconception about all the dirt and grim that the old mill chimneys caused. Most of the local stone in the Colne / Burnley area contains quite a lot of iron. Consequently, over a period of time its exposure to air will send it black. Just think about the stone walls in the country side, they are all black too.

Thanks for that. I now have the satisfaction of knowing that my childhood belief that our local stone was naturally black was less of a misconception than I had come to believe!

Ruth