The Four Banks, or Four Bank Corner, was one of those simple but effective place names, which no official invented, but just arose from the fact that there was a bank on each corner of the junction of Barlow Moor and Wilbraham Roads.
And because people do, they described what they saw, and made it the destination name of choice, and that I like.
Go back several decades and the corner which once was home to the Midland Bank and later the HSBC was known as Kemp’s Corner because here was Harry Kemp’s chemist shop which had a large clock above the door, making it a perfect place to arrange to meet in those pre mobile days.
And for those wanting more, the junction of Barlow Moor, Sandy Lane and High Lane was officially marked as Lane End but for generations was Brundretts’ Corner on account of the grocery shop belonging to Mr. Brundrett which was situated there.*
And returning to the Four Banks it was at the very beginning of the last century known as "Bank Corner" and appeared as such on messgaes sent on various picture postcards.
But the Four Banks, became Three banks and something else, and is now down to two.
And now what was the TSB on Barlow Moor Road and from memory was once the Bank of Ireland has also closed.
Although here I am prepared to be corrected by the Friends of Barlow Moor Road, who may point out it closed a while ago ….. but then I haven’t been out as much during the series of lockdowns.
Location; Chorlton
Picture; the closed TSB, Barlow Moor Road, 2021, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*Living at Lane End in two rooms, more stories of one up one downs, part 2, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2012/03/living-at-lane-end-in-two-rooms-more.html
AS ever brilliant!
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