Barclays closures: Southend and Canvey old banks in photos

Every time closures by any bank are announced, customers are left infuriated, although industry chiefs stress that only ten per cent of financial transactions are now done inside a branch.

A century ago - the Barclays Bank in Small Gains, Canvey in 1924 (Image: Canvey Community Archive)

Of course it wasn’t always like this. In decades past our High Streets were packed with banks and building societies.

Barclays opened its first branch in Southend in 1859 and by the time its Victoria Avenue premises was opened in January1963, it was the company’s 15th branch in the borough.

Up for sale - the Barclays Bank in New Road, Canvey, was closed and put on the market in 1977 (Image: Newsquest)

Now there are barely 15 in the whole of Essex.

One of the company’s branches on Canvey was a quirky sight.

Lloyd arrives - the new bank at ‘Plough Circus’ near the Palace Theatre in London, Road, Westcliff, back in 1924 (Image: Newsquest)

It was housed inside a small bungalow in New Road, as these photos show. The home was sold to Barclays in the 1950s but by 1977 the bank closed down the branch.

Cheque out our nostalgic gallery of old banks in Southend and Canvey.

Plush flooring - inside of the new branch of Lloyds at ‘Plough Circus’, Westcliff, in 1924 (Image: Newsquest)Vintage view - Barclays Bank in Hamlet Court Road (Image: Newsquest)