West of England & South Wales District Bank Records

This material is held atLloyds Banking Group Archives (London)

Scope and Content

Records of West of England & South Wales District Bank relating to the establishment and operation of the private firm, including deed of settlement and directors’ and board minute books.

Administrative / Biographical History

Foundation

This joint stock bank was formed in 1834 as the West of England & South Wales District Bank.

Expansion

Within a year, branches were opened at Barnstaple, Bath, Bridgwater, Exeter, Swansea and Taunton and others followed in Somerset in the 1840s and in South Wales after 1850. The bank expanded ambitiously and had 16 branches by 1860. In the 1860s and 1870s other banks were acquired including Allaway & Macdougall (est. 1807) of Ross on Wye in 1863; Kingsbridge Joint Stock Bank (est. 1841) in 1862; Towgood & Co (est. 1819) of Cardiff in 1855; and Harwood & Harwood (est. 1862) of Clevedon in 1877. Limited Liability was acquired in 1878.

Failure and takeover

The bank failed in 1878 but part of its branch network was reconstituted in 1879 as the Bristol & West of England Bank. The bank's failure had major financial repercussions in the west of England.

Access Information

Access is by appointment only, and at the discretion of the Archivist. Please e-mail archives@lloydsbanking.com for further information.

Other Finding Aids

Item level catalogue available - please e-mail archives@lloydsbanking.com for further details.

Geographical Names