X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Midland Bank


Kenneth Biggs

After demobilisation he returned to his banking career, becoming a bank manager for Midland Bank, initially in the Sloane Square branch, and later in Muswell Hill and Edmonton.

Midland Bank

Edward Hopkinson Holden led the bank at this time first as Managing Director from 1898 to 1908 and then as Chairman and Managing Director from 1908 until his death in 1919.

Holden also expanded overseas; it was the first British bank to set up a foreign exchange department and, by 1919, it was acting as London bank to some 650 correspondent banks throughout the world.

Poultry, London

At 27-35 Poultry is the old headquarters of Midland Bank, a Grade I listed building.


Beauchamp College

It received sponsorship of over £122,000 from The Garfield Weston Foundation, Lloyds Bank, Alliance & Leicester, Midland Bank, Psion, and Sainsbury's.

John Cuckney, Baron Cuckney

He subsequently became director and/or chairman of various companies, including travel company Thomas Cook, Midland Bank, tea company Brooke Bond, engineering firm John Brown, helicopter manufacturer Westland, Royal Insurance, Investors in Industry (later 3i), pharmaceutical company Glaxo, and Orion Publishing Group.

John Greenway

He joined Midland Bank in 1964 before joining the Metropolitan Police Service in 1965, after his Hendon Police College training he worked in the West End of London, leaving the force in 1969 to sell life insurance for Equitable Life.

Leopold Heath

He became a Director of the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society, of the Central Bank of London and of the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company.


see also

Cementation furnace, Sheffield

After standing unused for 40 years the furnace was restored in 1992/93 with financial assistance from the HSBC (then Midland) Bank.