The above sculpture can be seen on the wall outside the Barclays bank branch on Eastgate in Leeds city centre. It belongs to a time before 1969 when Martins bank was taken over by Barclays bank. The symbol of the grasshopper was used by Martins bank from its earliest days and is said to come from the family crest of Sir Thomas Gresham.
It holds significance for me because as a boy I had an account with Martins and was given a grasshopper moneybox. I was very upset to learn of the banks demise and no I did not want an account with Barclays!
In early episodes of the BBC comedy serial Dad's Army, Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and young Pike work at the Walmington-on-Sea branch of Martins Bank. In later episodes, this was changed to the fictional Swallow Bank. However, in the film version (1971), the cast are seen working in a branch of Martins Bank
Posts
Very interesting history and story. I enjoy little factoids like that. Makes me wonder why the Gresham family chose a grasshopper for their crest though. And the bird eating a lizard! (Or is that a fish?)
ReplyDelete--
Don't forget to vote for the April theme! We get two choices this time, thanks to Elaine. Please help spread the word too.