Description:Encouraging the industrious working classes to save became a national concern with the establishment of the Post Office Savings Bank following the Savings Bank Act of 1863. The Trentham and Lilleshall Banks were no longer distinctive after this time, and it is possible that Chief Agent George Loch wished to reduce the workload of the Trentham Estate Agents by closing the Banks.
A letter written by George Loch, James Loch’s son and successor, dated 1876 discusses ‘putting an end to the Trentham Savings Bank’. He writes ‘my own view has hitherto been to hand over the business to the Post Office’. However, the letter suggests that the Duke of Sutherland wished the Bank’s Trustees to consider transferring the Bank’s business to a scheme called ‘The National Penny Bank Limited’.
Loch appears reluctant about this, expressing uncertainty whether the scheme has ‘Government Guarantee’. It is interesting to note that the letter indicates that the Duke of Sutherland was concerned that local people would ‘dislike to disclose their savings to a person like the Postmaster’.
Click on the image on the left to learn more about the printed notices notifying savers of the bank's closure.