Impressive doorway for HSBC Bank

Image: © Eirian Evans Taken: 19 Mar 2008

The North and South Wales Bank dates from around the time Queen Victoria came to the throne. Many local banks were set up in the 18th and 19th century and used to issue their own notes because of the danger of transporting bank notes from London. The bank became a public company in early 20th Century and was amalgamated as part of the Midland Bank and latterly HSBC. Why it was called the North and South Wales Bank is a mystery - it was a local bank with branches in far off places such as Porthmadog and Holyhead and the furthest east it went was Liverpool (honorary Wales!). The notes from such banks were only ever meant to be used locally and the banks were often owned by single or groups of local businessmen. The last Welsh banknotes (from this bank) were withdrawn in 1908

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