Barclays Bank - Canvey

First Opening

Barclays today

My father, Frederick Cook, was a bank clerk working for Barclays Bank in Southend on Sea.  Canvey did not have a bank and there was an agreement that the banks would not open on Canvey without consulting each other.

However one bank, name unknown, opened on canvey without telling Barclays.  Barclays response was to rent a beach hut and my father used to travel from Southend, by train, with a case of money and then cross the stepping stones to the island to open the beach hut bank, I believe twice a week.

I have no other record but would like to know if there are any photo’s of this early bank or any other history of this story.

Comments about this page

  • Fascinating detail about the early banks on the Island. My most vivid recollection of Barclays was of the Manager (!) Mr.Ribbons…who seemed to know more about my financial affairs than I did!. As a young teacher asking HIM for a Bank Loan of £100 for a new car seemed downright profligate, and he as much as said so! I wonder what sort of bonus he got, if any…

    By Frank Whitnall (30/12/2009)
  • This might be the beach hut Barclays bank you mentioned

    By Janet Penn (23/03/2011)

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