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FINANCE AND GENERAL PURPOSES SUB-COMMITTEE: December 9th 1940
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WAR DAMAGE TO BANK BUILDINGS - FOURTH REPORT
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Damage has been caused to the undermentioned Bank buildings:
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Sherlock Street Branch |
October 19th |
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Brandwood Branch |
October 24th |
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Horse
Fair Branch |
October 28th |
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Selly Oak Branch |
October 26th |
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Alum Rock Branch |
October 31st & November 19th |
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Saltley Branch |
November 14/15th |
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Brookvale
Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Duddeston Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Balsall Heath Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Lozells Branch |
November 19th |
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Sparkbrook Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Sparkhill Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Springfield Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Spring Hill Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Ward End Branch |
November 19/20th |
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Yardley Branch |
November 19/20th & 22nd/23rd |
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Aston Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
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Moseley Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
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Rotton Park Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
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Small Heath Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
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Stechford Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
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Bordesley Green Branch |
November 22nd/23rd |
A pane of glass in laylight has been broken and slight damage has been done to lock socket on door. A square yard
of ceiling plaster has fallen in one of flat bedrooms and the roof window is slightly leaking. R Hunt & Son and C H Billington
have effected first aid repairs.
Brandwood Branch
Falling debris cause damage to asphalt on roof, and rain got through to
the ceiling of tenant's bedroom. Mr Wilde has instructed F E Wilkes & Son to have slight repairs done.
Horse Fair Branch
Damage
was caused by incendiary bomb to asphalt on roof and it penetrated to ceiling of room of flat occupied by Mr Robinson. Ceiling damaged
was approximately 4' the 2' and three panes of glass were broken. Messrs Singer Sewing Machine Co's premises were burned out on this
occasion, and as there is a tall party wall dividing the Bank premises and Singers, I thought it advisable to ask Mr Wilde to report
if the fire had affected the wall. His report was in the negative. Mr Wilde has been instructed to have necessary repairs done.
Selly
Oak Branch.
One pane of glass in laylight was broken by shrapnel. A small hole was also made in cast-iron guttering. Repairs
have been done by R Hunt & Son and W C McDonald.
Alum Rock Branch
On October 31st slight damage was caused by shrapnel
to slates and tiles on roof.
On November 19th severe damage was caused to the premises and Mr Surman (Architect) was instructed
to visit the premises and to report thereon. His report states that the damage to Bank premises mainly consists of all windows and
doors blown in and glass badly damaged while certain sections of the plaster ceilings have been destroyed. One wall dividing banking
Hall and Lavatory at rear above shows signs of fracture. His report on the damage to the flats over Bank states that an incendiary
bomb penetrated the roof of one flat whilst the other flat is also seriously damaged. The roof slating is entirely displaced and much
destroyed, and the chimney shaken, and several of the partition walls will need reconstructing. The external walls seem generally
sound although front windows are completely shattered or blown in. He states that as far as can be ascertained at the moment the main
structure is sound, but all roofs and slating need reconstructing. The wall along the street front over first floor window heads may
need re-building up to the eave gutters. All ceilings on first floor will have to be replaced, and partition and cross walls reconstructed
and windows and doors restored and refitted.
Mr Surman instructed Dare and Sons to effect immediate "first aid" repairs to render
the premises secure.
The severe damage to the premises necessitated the transfer of the Alum Rock Branch business to another
Branch, and I decided that for the time being it should be transferred to Saltley. This was done on the 20th November, and it is hoped
that sufficient "first aid" repairs will have been done to enable the Branch to conduct its business on its own premises as and from
Monday the 9th December.
Saltley Branch
Several slates dislodged from roof and rain has penetrated to tenant's bedroom.
Temporary repairs have been done, but a report from Mr Wilde is awaited as there are weak places in roof and damp in passage.
Brookvale
Branch
Three small panes of glass in mess room have been broken and another one cracked. The wooden joist over the front entrance
door has been slightly damaged, and bolt on entrance door strained. One or two tiles on roof have been dislodged. The corridor and
stairway ceiling of the flat occupied by one of the tenants, Mr Waugh, had slight cracks. Other rooms, too, had ceiling cracks and
in the main bedroom a piece of ceiling approximately 1 yard square had fallen.
The flat occupied by Mrs Bergol has also suffered.
The entrance door frame was damaged and several panes of glass broken. The lock-up-shop occupied by Mrs Huskinson had four plate glass
windows damaged and the bottom wooden frame of main window dislodged. Inside the shop a small quantity of plaster had fallen down.
Temporary repairs have been done by Mr Flemming and Mr Wilde asked to report.
Duddeston Branch
Further damage to windows
in branch and flat occurred on this occasion and temporary repairs have been done by R Hunt & Son.
Balsall Heath Branch
A
delayed action bomb fell about 25 yards from the Branch and the Police ordered that business could not be conducted on the premises.
Business was accordingly transferred to Moseley Branch on the 20th November. The bomb subsequently exploded at a depth of about 20
ft, but no damage was caused to the building.
Business was carried on as usual at the Branch on the 25th November.
Lozells
Branch
A fanlight was damaged by fire due to an incendiary bomb burning out next-door premises of Wrensons. R Hunt & Son
have been ordered to make permanent repairs as light on the stairs is important. Mr Wilde has been asked to report.
Sparkbrook
Branch
Various windows in Branch and Flats were broken, but no structural damage was done. In all, about 90 sq ft of glass was
broken. Mr Wilde has been asked to report and R Hunt & Son ordered to do "First aid" repairs.
Sparkhill Branch
Blast
from high explosive bombs broke two panes of glass in Branch front, facing Stratford Road. Seven panes of glass in two of the flat
windows were also broken. R Hunt & Son have been ordered to do temporary repairs.
Springfield Branch
Shrapnel damaged
about 4' of spouting during this raid. Mr Wilde has been asked to report, and the repairs have been done by F Davis (Builders) Ltd,
of College Road.
Spring Hill Branch
Five plate glass windows and two metal framed windows in front of building were damaged,
and in the Banking Hall near strong room one circular convex window 3ft in diameter was damaged. One of the front entrance doors is
slightly strained. The shop windows of 38 and 40 have been damaged and orders have been given by Mr Wilde to board up the shop front
of No 38 Spring Hill. The tenant of No 40 had already done this to his shop front. Windows were also broken in the living accommodation
and instructions were given to Mr Handscomb to effect the necessary repairs.
Mr Wilde is reporting fully on all the property
at Spring Hill, as damage has occurred at No 36 which is let to the Warwickshire Billiards Ltd. Here the tenant has reported damage
to the roof of the Hall.
Ward End Branch
One small window was broken and R Hunt & Son were ordered to effect temporary
repairs. Slight damage was done to six slates on roof and B A Cashmore & Co were ordered to do the necessary repairs. Mr Wilde
has been asked to report.
Yardley Branch
One plate glass window and one door window in the shop occupied by Mr Dawes-Knight
were broken, and instructions have been given to R Hunt & Son to do the necessary boarding-up.
During the raid of 22nd/23rd
November a further two plate glass windows in shop occupied by Mr Dawes-Knight were broken, together with a small window in flat.
All plate glass in Rates Department have been broken and several small window in flat.
In the Branch, a mess room window was
broken and a small pane of glass in Banking Hall was cracked. Damage has also been done to the tiles and guttering on the roof, and
Mr Wilde has been asked to report on all the damage.
Aston Branch
Flying debris caused damage at this branch, but it was
not extensive. A small hole is in the roof of the building and four panes of glass are broken in the skylight of the Banking Hall.
One window of the flat is also damaged. R Hunt & Son have been ordered to do temporary repairs and Mr Wilde instructed to report.
Moseley
Branch
Extensive damage has been done to this branch, but "first aid" repairs have been done by W & J Webb & Son, and
business is still being carried on there. The Banking Hall windows, Mess Room, and both Flats have suffered. Mr Wilde is arranging
for the demolition of any dangerous part of the building and Mr Surman has been instructed to prepare specification for reconstruction
purposes. A fuller report will be given at the next Committee Meeting.
Rotton Park Branch
A plate glass window 6' x 7'6"
was broken in our adjoining shop premises, No 159 Dudley Road. Repairs are being effected.
Small Heath Branch
An incendiary
bomb pierced the roof of the mess room and did damage to the floor and contents of this room. A hat and coat, four women's overalls,
one small oak table, 4½ yards of skirting board and about 2 square yards of wooden floor blocks were destroyed. One ARP sand scoop
was damaged. Wall and two doors have been blistered and the room will probably require redecorating. Three mess room windows were
also damaged either by splinter or blast. Mr Wilde has instructed F E Wilkes & Son to effect repairs and to give a report on damage.
Stechford
Branch
The plate glass window, approximately 10'3" x 6'6" belonging to the shop, No 175 Station Road, was smashed. R Hunt &
Son have been instructed to board up and Mr Wilde to make a report.
Bordesley Green Branch
This branch has again suffered
extensive damage. Mr Surman was instructed to visit the branch and report thereon, and his report is as follows:
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"To Bank Premises: |
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Entrance door, lock split and Bank lock dislodged. |
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4 Front windows lower panes glass shattered - 8 in all. |
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3 Fanlights including one over Entrance door ditto. |
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1 Side window of fanlight on service passage ditto. |
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Further
cracks disclosed in wall on side service passage, also yard wall on side service passage, also yard wall to garden at rear badly bulged. |
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Plaster to ceiling panels in Banking Hall cracks
increased. |
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1 Pier between front windows damaged externally, brickwork and plaster facing injured. |
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Also short length of retired wall from road back to front of No 5 Bordesley Green Road destroyed. |
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Note The front part of No 5 Bordesley Green Road completely demolished by explosion. Cracks to rear wall of Bank Building show signs of further extension. |
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Flat 2 panes of glass to window 1st floor overlooking service passage shattered. 26 panes ditto to front windows of flat ditto. |
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Also two complete sets of sashes shattered and need replacing. |
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Damage to roof, at rear a few more sides dislodged from hips of roof. |
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Also further slight damage to slates on front roof by shrapnel." |
J
P Hilton.