The United Counties, under this and its pervious names, is a well documented example of Barclays' constituent joint stock banks that were formed before 1850. The original detailed deed of settlement by which the bank was founded in 1836 (under the Banking Co-partnership Act of 1826), is supplemented by subsequent amendments to its constitution.
A full set of directors' minute books has survived, together with a comprehensive run of annual reports and accounts and a set of internal ledgers.
The shareholders' meeting minutes survive from the start of the bank, and there are later registers and lists of shareholders.
There are good staff records, including a register of clerks entering service in 1879-81 that records previous employment: two of the men had worked for the Overend, Gurney bill broking firm that failed in 1866, precipitating 'Black Friday' in the City.
Company
- Deed of Settlement including special resolutions, rules and regulations of company 1836-74
- Rules and Regulations of company under Companies Acts 1866-98
- Certificates of Incorporation, Registration etc. 1858-1907
- Memorandum and Articles of Association, with special resolutions 1907-08
- Amalgamation papers and Deed of Covenant (Directors' Bradford Old Bank) (1907)
Board and Directors
- Minutes of directors' meetings 1836-1916
- Minutes of General Purposes Committee (customer and shareholder transactions) 1881
- Minutes of Ordinary Committee (weekly meetings to discuss customer accounts, general management of branches) 1904-1917
- Minutes of Special Committees (records of inspections etc.) 1906-1920
- Annual reports and accounts, balance sheets, circulars and lists of branches 1836-1916
- Register of directors 1902-15
- Board and Committees attendance books 1903-06, 1908-1909
Shareholders
- Shareholders' meeting minutes 1837-1916
- Registers, ledgers and lists of shareholders including allotments 1866, 1881-1916
- Share certificates and associated documents 1837-1906
- Dividend Warrants 1907-16
- Pro forma letter re allotment of Birmingham Town & District shares in the names of husbands of existing women shareholders of Midland Banking Co. upon acquisition of that company 1881
- Letter to shareholders criticising board of directors 1868
Accounting records
- Private account ledgers 1836-1916
- Private ledger balances 1840-66
- Draft balance sheets 1845-81
- Profit and loss accounts, statements, balance sheets and analysis 1865-1915
- Statements, past due bills, suspense accounts, bad and doubtful debts 1865-80
- Half-yearly profit and loss balance sheets 1893-1915
- Statement of salary totals 1882-85
- Estates ledger 1879-1908
- Valuations and inventories of bank premises 1885-86, 1901
- Premises ledgers 1901-1911
- Quarterly statements including state of branch business 1875-1916
- Ledgers of Stock Exchange Commission allowed to branches 1905-1910
- Register and ledgers for bad and doubtful debts 1881-1900
- Registers of failed accounts 1891-1905, 1909-1916
- Brokers' loan ledgers for banks and discount houses 1874-1916
- Cash book for differences discovered 1875-88
Management records
- Head Office Instructions and circulars 1876-1919
- Managing director and general manager's letter books 1883-85, 1887-95, 1906-10, 1915-19
- Correspondence re bank's interest in railway ventures 1868-90
- Correspondence with Birmingham branch of Bank of England 1875-83, 1888
- Premises and property correspondence and deeds 1881-1907
- General correspondence 1904-13
- Premises register 1838-1890
- Register of title to premises 1875-1906
- Specimen or draft contract for building new bank premises 1890
- Booklet including balance sheet and list of branches 1913
- Correspondence, deeds and newspaper cuttings (1837-1940)
- Register of documents signed under power of attorney 1889-1903
- Letter re use of private telegraphic key 1906
- Schedule of interest allowed and charged by head office to branches 1908-19
- Specimen forms for mortgages, guarantees, and deposit of deeds and shares to secure advances 1900s
- Pocket advertising cards including list of branches, statements of assets and liabilities, Birmingham District & Counties Bank 1890-93
Customer records
- Register of Securities Deposited 1886-1912
- Register of customers' negotiable securities 1892-1906, 1913-16
- Register of securities held by nominees (organised by branch) 1908-22
- Papers re liabilities of Cresswell & Sons to Birmingham Town & District Bank 1865-66
- Correspondence, deeds, liquidation papers, pass books etc re customers and their accounts, including New British Iron Company, Hope Iron Company 1864-1911
- Correspondence re loan to Wolverhampton School Board 1895
Staff
- Salary lists and staff registers 1845-53, 1869-1904
- Staff salary lists with summary, showing staff serving in Armed Forces in First World War 1905-1916
- Staff appointments list for apprentices and officers 1902-1913
- Specimen apprenticeship agreement form 1870
- Signed contract of employment for a named clerk 1913
- Guarantee bonds for officers undertaking external treasurerships 1868-99
- Minutes of officers' superannuation fund including meetings of members and managing committee 1885-1917
- Rules, accounts, ledgers, day books, subscriptions, correspondence, pass books of officers' superannuation fund 1884-1915
- Instructions for cashiers 1886-1916
- Rules and regulations to be observed by bank officers 1905
- Illuminated book presented to J Cecil Clay [a branch manager] on his retirement from the Birmingham, Dudley & District Banking Company 1884
- Papers re entitlement of staff members to rebates under Bankers' Guarantee & Trust Fund 1895, 1909-
- Papers re establishment of Bankers' Health & Insurance Society following National Insurance Act (1911) 1912-14
Amalgamation Papers
- Agreements, resolutions, deeds of covenant, correspondence, notes, memoranda, circulars to customers and shareholders, news cuttings 1879-1922
Artefacts
- Proof impression of common seal 1866
- Horse messenger bags 1858-1891
- Printing plates
- Epergne presented to Henry Griffin Walker [a branch manager] on his retirement 1883