From Village Bank to Gym

Now used as a gym, this building was a bank from 1962 until its closure in 2016.

Ponteland had branches of all four of the major UK High Street banks reflecting the prosperity of the district. Midland Bank was the first to open up modern premises in the village at the beginning of the 1960’s with an up-to-date banking hall, large windows and most importantly, parking facilities.

The bank was built on the site of some old stone shops (including what had been the village’s post office) which were demolished to make way for the bank. The new building preserved the roof line of the previous buildings and incorporated the irregular corner which had housed its own shop.

The new bank also incorporated reconstituted stone at ground level and a pantile roof to help in blend in with the older buildings in the village.

In 1999 Midland changed their name to reflect the new parent company HSBC and the logo was changed. In 2016 this was the second of the village’s banks to close. All the former banks have struggled to find a new purpose. This one has reopened as a gym.