Campbeltown Banks

[skrik]

Does anyone know in which years the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank were established in the town ? Also the Commercial Bank, which was in the town in 1865, and was this taken over by one of the existing banks ?

[dunc99]

The Commercial Bank of Scotland merged with the National Bank of Scotland in 1959, forming the National Commercial Bank of Scotland. It was merged into RBS in 1969. I assume that the bank in Castlehill used to be the Commercial Bank. I remember when it was the National Commercial.

[dunc99]

The Commercial Bank, in Castlehill, was built in 1841, and extended in 1873. Architect was David Rhind.

http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=101489

[EMDEE]

The Commercial Bank, in Castlehill, was built in 1841, and extended in 1873. Architect was David Rhind.

http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=101489

As far as I can remember, the National Commercial was on the corner of Castlehill and Lorne Street and is now the offices of Stewart Balfour and Sutherland. Is this the buiding referred to here or is it the building across the road, presently occupied by RBS? My own sense is that this is the current RBS building.

[WC1]

Correct Emdee. The National Commercial closed its offices at the corner of Castlehill and Lorne Street (now Stewart Balfour & Sutherland) when it amalgamated with the Royal Bank. When I worked for McConnachie's buses in 1968, I used to take cash, cheques etc. for banking at the NCB, so the amalgamation could well have been in 1969 as Dunc says.

What does it say when your memories are now defined as 'local history'!!

[skrik]

The Trustee Savings Bank opened in 1827 at the bottom of Main St. near the junction with Shore St. The Clydesdale opened in 1839 and was their first branch outside of Glasgow - shows how prosperous Campbeltown was back then.

[EMDEE]

The Trustee Savings Bank opened in 1827 at the bottom of Main St. near the junction with Shore St. The Clydesdale opened in 1839 and was their first branch outside of Glasgow - shows how prosperous Campbeltown was back then.

Of course in the 1800s Campbeltown was a very economically important town, as "Whisky capital of the World", and also a major fishing port.

Having said that, I would suggest that the prosperity was in the hands of the distillery owners, and the average worker was not particularly well-off.

[skrik]

I'm confused as to whether the Nat./ Comm. bank was in the now RBS building, or in the now SBS building, or both.

[EMDEE]

The National Commercial Bank was in the corner building which is now SBS offices. The Royal Bank (to my knowledge) was always where it is now. When the Royal Bank took over the National Commercial in 1969?, the branch was closed and local business moved across the road to the Royal Bank.

[dunc99]

I always thought that the bank at the top of Castlehill (now the RBS), used to be the National Commercial (as I alluded to in my earlier post), and the RBS was where the SBS office is now situated.

Having seen the subsequent posts, I thought I must have mis-remembered.

However, I came across the Campbeltown, Southend and Machrihanish Guide Book (1907), where, at the bottom of page 24 and continued on page 26, the route to Machrihanish is described thus:

"The first road named (Machrihanish) is reached by turning down Lorne Street, which branches off from Main Street at the Royal Bank corner."

This again firmly points to the SBS office being the former Royal Bank.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/6053743/Campbeltown-Southend-Machrihanish-1907-Guide-Book

[John A]

I agree with you dunc. I remember as a wee boy going into the "bank" where SBS is with my dad an he was always a RBS customer.

[skrik]

Yes, Historic Scotland states that 2 Castlehill (the present SBS office on the corner of Lorne St.) was built for the Royal Bank and opened in 1885.

[EMDEE]

Hmmm. Maybe my memory's not right this time. I was convinced about this, but am thinking now I might have it wrong, and the banks/buildings were the other way round. It is after all 40 years ago!

Maybe WC1 could get back on this as he seemed to be of the same opinion as myself.

[skrik]

According to F.Gillies' "In Campbeltown Once More" the Bank of Scotland was in Castlehill before moving to Longrow South. Can anyone confirm where in Castlehill ? Was it where RBS is now ? Think they moved within last 50 years.

[dunc99]

According to Slaters Directory - Kintyre 1911, the Bank of Scotland was in Longrow.

Was this the location before it moved to Longrow South?

I am certain that the Bank of Scotland did not move in the last 50 years. I can only remember it in its current location. My memory extends well beyond 50 years!