This page is one of several pages which are based on articles in our book entitled Royal Leamington Spa, A History in 100 Buildings which was published in 2018 and is no longer in print.
The Regency grandeur of the “Old Bank House”, a 4 storey, double-fronted building of about 1822, has long dominated Leamington banking and the Parade, at “Cross Street and Upper Union Parade” on land owned by William Pratt. Originally, a residential building, it was known as “Union House” in its early days, receiving a steady flow of eminent visitors for dinners and card parties – for more than “100 fashionables”.
It was acquired by the Warwick and Leamington Banking Company in 1836, who then quickly sold off the furnishings by “public competition” and converted Union House for bank use. The Warwick and Leamington Banking Company relocated to this prestigious position, from Bath Street, on 1 November 1836, under the management of William Thompson. This bank was regarded as “an important acquisition,” to the developing Spa, although not welcomed by everyone! The Bank extended, after 1857, when it purchased the adjacent building, No 23
And so began the famous Lloyd Banking Family’s connection with Leamington Spa and its Banking World. Little wonder that Leamington was chosen, by Lloyds, as one of its earliest branches outside Birmingham. The founder of Lloyds Bank, Sampson Lloyd’s grandsons, David and Henry Summerfield worked as cashiers (about 1839), at the newly opened bank, commuting daily from Warwick, by horse and carriage. David unfortunately died young (about 1846) and his position was soon coveted by Edward Wells Wynne; the Bank’s Directors, however, objected to this promotion, resulting in Wynne’s suicide, when he left “a phial and wine glass” on the banks of the River Leam. Henry Summerfield became a long-serving Bank Manager, from 1841 until his death in 1869, successfully overseeing the transition to Lloyds Bank (1866).
The Bank played a key role in innovative community enterprises, at a time of rapid expansion in the town; this included, for example, collecting monies, in 1850, for Prince Albert’s “Exhibition of Industry.” The Summerfields also had to identify forged Warwick and Leamington Banking Notes, at Court.
1845 saw the dramatic theft of £1,000, by their Bank Clerk, William Hudson Blayney. Although eventually apprehended by the French Police and sentenced to 10 years’ transportation, he was later sent to the asylum, as a “criminal lunatic.” This betrayal was particularly galling to the Summerfields, as Blayney had had the privilege of living in the Old Bank (1839-1846) with three servants. His brother, Elisha George was also convicted – having previously been dismissed from the Bank for dodgy behaviour. Other Bank Clerks, Edward Wells Wynne, Thomas Middleton and William Timms had to testify at Court.
This was not the only Lloyd connection, for living in Leamington (1841) was John Biddle, aged 73, himself a private banker and widower of Elizabeth Lloyd (granddaughter of Sampson); their only daughter, Rachel Lloyd (nee Biddle) had also married another Lloyd relative: George.
Next door, Gloucester House had had a steady flow of distinguished visitors from the 1820s. In 1851, Caroline Sobieski Lynes (nee Wynne) lived there, with her daughter, and four servants. From 1861 to 1871, the Bank continued to let this residential accommodation to Auctioneer and Estate Agent, Joseph Hawkes. By 1881, bank personnel were living in the building, with William John Pratt’s son born there on 9 March 1881.
In keeping with the family tradition, Hubert Lloyd, a Bank Clerk (son of Alfred Lloyd, private banker and another grandson of Sampson) moved into Old Bank (1861-65); as a widower, he resided with his young family, moving shortly after the death of his daughter, Amy, in 1864.
After Summerfield’s death, William Childe became Manager, serving Lloyds from 1870 to 1886. During this period, his cashier (and then Sub-manager), Edward Seymour, lived with his family in the Old Bank; Mrs Seymour participated fully in community life and raised funds at the “Leamington Parish Church Jubilee” Bazaar for the new Victoria Tower. Although Seymour, after a long wait for Childe’s retirement, was promoted to Manager, this was sadly only for two years, because he died in 1887.
Arthur Charles Pickering, Bank Manager (1888–1910) lived at 85 Regent Street and the Old Bank was uninhabited from 1891 to 1901. Pickering was described as having a “most pleasure(able) character,” and credited with building up the Banking Business. He was also active in town life, particularly in music and cricket.
The next Bank Manager, Walter Edward Anderson, moved into the Old Bank again. (1908-1919). He was succeeded by Reginald John Salt, (1919-1934) (son of Sir Thomas Salt, Bart., and Staffordshire MP – but more importantly the previous Chairman of Lloyds Bank) who led the Lloyds Bank Centenary Celebrations in 1934; his wife was also renowned for being an advocate for young people’s rights. Mr and Mrs Salt were instrumental in developing The Leamington Slum Clearance Company (see the article entitled The Holt). In the pre-war years, William Cooper then took over as Manager (1936-1939).
Michael Jeffs, 2018
Footnote about Banks in the town
The fore-runner of Lloyds Bank was the first bank in the town. But Lloyds did not have it all their own way. At the present time there is competition from Barclays, Handelsbanken, HSBC, National Westminster, Nationwide, Royal Bank of Scotland (probably closing in 2018), Santander, Trustee Savings Bank (now TSB) and the Post Office.
The history of these banks is quite convoluted and can only be hinted at in this book. The HSBC started as the Leamington Priors and Warwickshire Banking Co in Bath Street in 1835. Barclays opened in the Parade as the Birmingham District and Counties Bank in 1899.