Back in the mid nineteenth century, Market Lavington was a market town and it had the services that might be expected in such a place. This included a number of banks.
Gradually, Market Lavington lost some of the services, as it became more a village than a town. Of course, it is a first rate village and boasts many facilities, which other villages will envy. We have two pubs, a small supermarket, a chemist, a couple of hairdressers, a newsagents, a butcher’s shop, a couple of pubs and a thriving post office. There are take-away premises of various kinds, but many will regret that we no longer have a bank although, of course, the Post Office does offer many banking services.
The last bank to close, in Market Lavington, was Lloyds Bank, which closed its doors for the last time on 29th August 1996. The name lives on for the building which included the bank was always known as Bank House and it still is.
Memories are kept at Market Lavington Museum where amongst our exhibits we have the money weighing scales that were in use until the very last day that the bank operated.
Money weighing scales from the former Lloyds Bank in Market Lavington
The scales have weights marked, not in pounds and ounces or grams, but in quantities of money such as, £10s of 50p coins
A weight used with the money scales
We have other bank memorabilia, at the museum, so if this happens to be your interest then do visit the museum.
February 8, 2011 at 1:42 pm |
I volunteer at a museum in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada and I find your site with all the posted information great.