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Last bank leaves Corn Street
For centuries, Corn Street was Bristol’s financial district, with opulent facades matching the opulent interiors of many of the buildings along the road.
But the last bank has now left Corn Street as NatWest departs for shiny new premises in Broadmead.
NatWest’s departure brings to an end a period of history that saw much of Bristol’s wealth flow through financial institutions on Corn Street that have now become bars, restaurants and hotels.
is needed now More than ever
The former NatWest on Corn Street still has stone tablets marking it as ‘the Old Bank’, which were originally on 35 Corn Street (the former Pizza Express) – photo: Martin Booth
The first full banking partnership established in Bristol was opened as ‘Bristol Bank’ on Broad Street in 1750. Once other banks opened in the city it became known as The Old Bank.
The Old Bank’s office had to be demolished for the construction of John Street at its junction with Broad Street and the bank moved in 1777 to Corn Street.
According to a history of the bank, by 1980 National Westminster Bank had made the Corn Street premises that they have now departed the home of its insurance services, registrars department and “a sizeable part of its international business”.
The author of the pamphlet writes: “The visitor to Corn Street must be struck by the sharp contrast in styles of the exterior of the new Bristol City Office – the Victorian flamboyance of the facade of number 36 against the quiet solidity of the 32 and 34 Corn Street building.
“The two ‘Old Bank’ oval stone tablets brought from the earlier building across the road can be seen on the face of number 36 and stepping inside we are surprised by a completely modern, yet intimate, banking hall.
“A feature of this is a carving in marble of the granting in the 16th century by Queen Elizabeth I of the right to ‘the loyal wives of Bristol’ to lay out washing to dry on the slopes of Brandon Hill.”
The 15 feet by 13 feet carving on Napoleon marble is by Walter Ritchie, who also has a sculpture on the exterior wall of the Eye Hospital on Lower Maudlin Street.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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