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The Preston Banking Company Building on Lord Street in Southport

PRESTON BANKING COMPANY SOUTHPORT

Bank built in 1888-9 by EW Johnson for the Preston Banking Company. Listed on the National Heritage List for England.



LORD STREET TOWN TRAIL


HALLS OF THE GODS

Classical architecture ruled when the banks competed with each other for solidity and splendour. Built by the Preston Banking Company in 1888 to the designs of E.W. Johnson, the Preston coat of arms is carved in stone. This bank has one of the finest Corinthian facades in the north of England.

SOUTHPORT CIVIC SOCIETY


Lord Street Town Trail - Halls Of The Gods - Preston Banking Company - Southport Civic Society
Lord Street Town Trail | Preston Banking Company


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Preston Banking Company

The Preston Banking Company was a significant financial institution based in Preston during the 19th and early 20th centuries.  It appears to have origins that date back as far as 1776, making it one of the oldest provincial banks in England.


A Sculpture on Preston Banking Company Building by EW Johnson in Southport
A Sculpture on Preston Banking Company Building in Southport


Founding and Early History

The bank was established as a private bank by a group of local businessmen and merchants to provide financial services to the growing commercial and industrial sectors in Preston.

Initially, it would have served the needs of local textile manufacturers, traders, and landowners, reflecting Preston's early role as a centre for the cotton industry.

The Preston Banking Company itself is documented as having been officially founded in April 1844 as a joint-stock bank.

Joint-stock banks were becoming more common in the early 19th century due to changes in banking legislation, which allowed them to issue shares and operate on a larger scale.

The formation of the Preston Banking Company in 1844 may have involved the restructuring or incorporation of an earlier, privately held Preston bank that traced its roots back to 1776.

One notable figure in its early operations was Henry Graves, who led the team that opened the bank's first branch at 40 Fishergate on 24 June 1844.  Described as "an Irish gentleman of portly and commanding address," Graves served as the branch manager with an annual salary of £500.


Expansion and Influence

The bank's headquarters were located in Preston, but it expanded its reach by opening branches in surrounding towns, including in Southport and other parts of Lancashire.

In 1888, the Preston Banking Company commissioned the architect E.W. Johnson to design a new bank building on Lord Street in Southport — which is still standing today and noted for its distinctive architectural style.


Preston Banking Company building, by E.W. Johnson, noted for its distinctive architectural style
Preston Banking Company building, noted for its distinctive architectural style


Merger and Legacy

The Preston Banking Company remained independent until 1891, when it was acquired by Manchester and Liverpool District Bank.

The Manchester and Liverpool District Bank later became part of District Bank, which eventually merged into National Westminster Bank (NatWest) in 1968.


Remaining Traces

The Southport building designed by E.W. Johnson and some other former branch buildings still survive, often repurposed for different commercial uses.

Historical banking records from the Preston Banking Company might be held in local archives or NatWest’s historical records.

The Preston Banking Company reflects the rise of regional banking during the Industrial Revolution, as local capital supported the expansion of Lancashire’s textile and industrial economy.


The Preston Civic Crest - Coat of Arms - can be seen on the Façade Stonework
The Preston Civic Crest can be seen on the Façade Stonework


The Preston Civic Crest - Coat of Arms - can be seen on the Façade Stonework
The Preston Civic Crest can be seen on the Façade Stonework



Preston Banking Company building, by E.W. Johnson, noted for its distinctive architectural style
Preston Banking Company building, noted for its architectural style


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ERNEST WALTER JOHNSON


ERNEST WALTER JOHNSON, 14, Preston Road, Southport; son of the late Robert Johnson; born at Southport, January, 1853; educated at Sandringham School, Southport. Architect and surveyor; articled to the late J. Sidebotham, of Southport, afterwards, for some years, with Edward Salomons, architect, of Manchester; commenced on his own account about twenty five years ago in Southport; since then he has been architect to many of the principal buildings and institutes in the district, amongst them being the School of Art for the Corporation, in Lord Street; the London and Midland Bank, and the Albany Buildings, Lord Street, Southport; the Halifax and Huddersfield Branch Bank, Elland, Yorkshire; a mausoleum for Charles Scarisbrick, J.P., etc. ; a Freemason ; member of the Fermor Lodge, No. 1313 ; member and late President of the Southport Photographic Society. Married Grace, daughter of the late Thomas Sagar, of Burnley.

Ernest Walter Johnson, Architect - Lancashire at the Opening of the 20th century
Ernest Walter Johnson - Architect

Tracy & Pike. Lancashire at the Beginning (sic. Opening) of the 20th century

Contemporary Biographies - ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, ETC.     

Page 412 - Taken from the Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940 website:

https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/architects/ernest-walter-johnson


It is interesting that this information comes from the 'Contemporary Biographies' (Edited by W. T. PIKE.) section of the book 'LANCASHIRE At the Opening of the Twentieth Century' by W. BURNETT TRACY.  I have used the Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940 website as a reference dozens of times, but I came across the book separately last August, when looking for information about the Ribchester Workhouse yesterday.

Ernest Walter Johnson, Architect - Lancashire at the Opening of the 20th century
Ernest Walter Johnson - Lancashire at the Opening of the 20th century


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Searches for information about the early Preston bank also revealed a announcement in the Southport Visiter from February 18th 1858.  It is a 'COPY OF RETURN PURSUANT TO THE 7th and 8th, VIC, c32.  This relates to The Bank Charter Act 1844 (7 & 8 Vict. c. 32), sometimes referred to as the Peel Banking Act of 1844, which was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It provides a list of 'Persons of whom the company or partnerships consist' (link below).  It contains a good number of Preston names that recognise from that era.

BOARDMAN William, Farington House, Farington, cotton spinner

BRETHERTON William, Heskin Hall, nr Chorley, Gentleman

CALVERT William, Walton-le-Dale, nr Preston, cotton spinner

LIVESEY Joseph, Great Bank Parade, Preston, Cheese factor

SIMPSON Isaac, East Cliff, Preston, Gentleman

THRELFALL Richard, Winckley Sq, Preston, cotton spinner


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Further reading and sources of information


ERNEST WALTER JOHNSON from the Architects of Greater Manchester 1800 - 1940 website

https://manchestervictorianarchitects.org.uk/architects/ernest-walter-johnson

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Preston Banking Company (Limited) | banking-history.org.uk
Established in 1844. Acquired Limited Liability in 1883. Amalgamated with London & Midland Bank Limited in 1894.

https://banking-history.org.uk/record/the-preston-banking-company-limited/

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From the Preston Bank Company to HSBC – 175 years on Fishergate for city bank | Ed Walker [Blog Preston]

https://www.blogpreston.co.uk/2019/06/from-the-preston-bank-company-to-hsbc-175-years-on-fishergate-for-city-bank/

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RETURN PURSUANT TO THE firm Preston Banking Company | Old Mersey Times

https://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/prestonbankco.html

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The Midland Bank (now HSBC). A bank built in 1888-9 by EW Johnson for the Preston Banking Company. Listed on the National Heritage List for England. 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1379639



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Location: 331 Lord St, Southport PR8 1NJ, UK

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