BANK OF LIVERPOOL EXTRACTS

COAL PRICES.

Bank of Liverpool Industrial News for July 1919 reports that the rise of 6/- per ton in price of coal forecast for July 9^th was 1/6 more than had been expected.  Suspicion voiced that it was done to make miner’s case for advance in wages and conditions more unpopular.  The chairman of the Coal Commission seemed to be advocating nationalisation and in a report had admitted in effect that control of the industry by the government was ‘a dangerous experiment’.  The ‘News’ calculated that a rise of 6/- per ton equated to 7/6 per loom/year. 
 

TRADING CONDITIONS 1920

Bank of Liverpool industrial news reports on trade in Barnoldswick.  Further advance in cotton prices.  Manufacturers margins improve.  Difficulties with transport owing to congestion on railways and canal close by drought.
 

Basically same report for December 1919 except canal not mentioned.  January 1920 gives good report for Barnoldswick.  July 1920 report is less optimistic.  By October picture is gloomy and coal strike begins October 16^th 1920.  By December depression is reported as acute.
 

CRAVEN BANK CHRONOLOGY

From Dalesman, September 1959.

1791; Birkbeck’s Alcock and Co. The Craven Banking Co.

1806: Birkbeck’s, Alcock, Peart and Smith

1812: Birkbeck’s Alcock, Peart and Moffat

1826: Absorbed Chippendale, Netherwood and Carr, Skipton

1835: Birkbeck’s, Alcock’s, Birkbeck and Robinson

1845: Alcock’s, Birkbeck, Robinson, Birkbeck and Stansfield

1858: Alcock’s Birkbeck and Co

1880: Incorporated as Craven Bank Limited

1906: Absorbed by Bank of Liverpool Limited

1918: Amalgamated with Martin’s Bank to become Bank of Liverpool and Martin’s Bank Limited.

1928: Name changed to Martin’s Bank Limited. 
 

SLATER. JOHN AND SONS.

Extract from the diary of George Robinson, manager of Alcock’s Birkbeck and Co.  Dated Nov. 1867. 
John Slater and sons manufacturers Barnoldswick.  Have hitherto kept an account with Yorkshire Bank, limit on open account £500, discounts £1500 which they have never exceeded.  Extra discounts handled by Bradford banking Co to the extent of £8,000.  They have purchased the shed in which they work in Barnoldswick for £3,000.  (£1000 to be paid 1 May 1867, £1,000 in Nov 1867 and £1,000 in May 1868)  They anticipated last payment and are now clear.  They have bought land of the Executors of S B Hall and have an interest in a mill at Galgate.  All bills on first class houses, McClaurin and Co; Miers and Co and others.  Banking turnover £18,000.   
 
HORSFIELD. THOMAS
BofL papers.  Nov 29 1867.  Thomas Horsfield cabinet maker at Barnoldswick with a furniture shop at Nelson.  Advanced £60 (to him) on a promissory note of self and Clayton Slater to be repaid in six months.  H Says he has no liabilities and wants some temporary money to increase his business.
 
BRACEWELL. CHRISTOPHER AND BROS. EARBY
BofL papers.  Letter dated march 17^th 1869 to C Bracewell and Bros of Earby:  From George Robinson, manager of Alcock’s Birkbeck and Co.  Bankers of Skipton. 
‘We always like to …..  your convenience and as we would not like to continue so large an advance as that at which your account now stands and at which it has for some time ….. during the summer months of the year.  We give you this early notice at the risk of anticipating what may in any case have been your intention.  We should therefore thank you to effect a considerable reduction before the end of June and we feel confident you will consult our wishes during the coming summer. 
 
CRAVEN BANK
From ‘Four centuries of banking’ by George Chandler.  Batsford, 1954.  Vol II, page 141.  ‘The foundation partners of the Craven Bank were William and John Birkbeck of Settle; John Alcock of Skipton; John Peart of Grassington; Joseph Smith and William Lawson of Giggleswick.  The first deposits in the bank were £840 by William Birkbeck and £51 by John Birkbeck II of Settle on 17^th October 1791.
 
Swagman/16 April 2004
 

[These are some stray extracts from research I did in the archives at Liverpool]