National Deposit Friendly Society, Eastgate.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 8:24 pm

The photo (taken January 13 2012) shows the building at the junction of Vicar Lane and Eastgate that has a National Deposit Friendly Society (NDFS) name on it (my next post will have a close up of that name sign, which also has a faint older name behind it).I've been trying to find some history of the NDFS there but have not found any. I would be grateful if anyone could please tell me any history. The NDFS website does not seem to have any mention of a branch in Leeds. A search of Leodis brings lots up about the Kingston Unity Friendly Society, but that was at the bottom of Eastgate near the roundabout.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 8:30 pm

This is the close-up photo (taken January 13 2011) of the National Deposit Friendly Society name sign. There is the remains of an old name behind but I cannot make it out despite trying various image manipulations! The bottom line of that name may however I think state Assurance Society.

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 8:33 pm

The NDFS appears to have been located on Woodhouse Lane near The Fenton in the 1960s.http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... ascinating reference on that photo, by the way, to Castelow's pharmacy. Mr Castelow was apparently still dispensing at age 97!

String o' beads · Post by **String o' beads** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 8:35 pm

And here they are on Karnac Road:http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... ifier=5323

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 8:43 pm

Thanks Geordie-exile. The NDFS branch at Vicar Lane/Eastgate must presumably have been a major one at some stage as I did come across a mention in a search of a National Deposit Friendly Society House there, but that was all it mentioned!

Post by **mhoulden** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 9:18 pm

According to Leodis it's the Wesleyan & General Assurance Society: http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... PLAY=FULLI couldn't find anything at http://www.thephonebook.bt.com/publisha ... x.publisha for the NDFS in Leeds. The organisation rebranded itself as National Friendly and changed to a swirly logo like the Stagecoach or old Consignia one in 2009 (http://www.nationalfriendly.co.uk/Heritage/Brand/) so it could just be an old sign that hasn't been taken down after they moved out

Tasa · Post by **Tasa** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 9:21 pm

Leodian wrote: This is the close-up photo (taken January 13 2011) of the National Deposit Friendly Society name sign. There is the remains of an old name behind but I cannot make it out despite trying various image manipulations! The bottom line of that name may however I think state Assurance Society. You're correct about the bottom line. I also deciphered the letters WES at the beginning of the top line and RAL at the end, so I guessed Wesleyan, and a Google Book Search has brought up the Wesleyan & General Assurance Society. Surprisingly, it's still in business (albeit without the "& General" in its title) and here's a link to its history:http://www.wesleyan.co.uk/about-us/historyThat was really well spotted, Leodian! Edited: I notice I was writing my message while mhoulden was posting!

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 15 Jan, 2012 9:25 pm

Cheers mhoulden and Tasa. That is appreciated.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Mon 16 Jan, 2012 12:58 am

I thought they were still there. I'm sure the name plate is still on the door. May be wrong. Or it's been left behind.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Sun 01 Sep, 2013 9:18 pm

Above the doorway of the building at the Vicar Lane/Lady Lane corner there is a feature of a grasshopper and a bird, so I took this zoomed-in photo on August 30 2013 (there is a similar feature on the Vicar Lane/Eastgate side). On searching for information about the building I found that it was built as a Martins Bank and that the Wesleyen & General Assurance Society used part of the building.In information that I also found it stated "The history of Martins Bank is intertwined with the Grasshopper, the sign under which the Bank traded and was known in its early years...In 1918, the bank was acquired by the Bank of Liverpool...the name of the merged bank became the Bank of Liverpool and Martins Ltd. However, the name was shortened to Martins Bank Ltd in 1928...By 1928, the bank had expanded to some 560 branches and had a logo featuring a grasshopper, which was the crest of Sir Thomas Gresham, and a liver bird, the logo of the Bank of Liverpool...The bank was bought by Barclays Bank in 1969, when all of its 700 branches became branches of Barclays". The bird is therefore a Liver Bird, which I did not know, nor also that Martins Bank was originally called Grasshopper. So I now know why there is a grasshopper with a bird!This is a link to a photo in Leodis that was taken January 24 1939 and shows the feature above the doorway. Note that Quarry Hill Flats are said to be under construction in the rear. http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... SPLAY=FULL