Before the present building, this was the home of William Crisp and his family, Southwold's first mayor in 1836, the owner of Southwold Brewery and leaseholder of the Town Mill until his death on February 23 1844. James Maggs records in his diary of April 11: "Sale by auction of the Brewery, Maltings, Granary, Shipping, Residence, Building Ground and Lodging House..."

1896
Edgar Pipe - Agent, Barclays & Co.(K1896). This the the year that Barclays & Co is founded, with the merging of several provincial banks, including Backhouse Bank of Darlington and Gurneys of Norwich. Many local banks are subsequently absorbed and become Barclays agencies.

Edgar Pipe will later become an important local dignatory. He is Mayor four times: between 1904 and 1906, 1912 and 1913, 1914 and 1919, 1932 and 1934.

1930 approx
Edward W Wright - Bank Manager, Barclays . Edward Wright is promoted to Branch Manager this year, having been on the staff for some three years previously. Until now, he has lived in a flat overlooking South Green (believed to be no 10 South Green) beneath which his wife, Geraldine Nash ran a dance studio. With the promotion, the family move into the flat above the bank and, in due course, so does the Dance Studio. David Wright, their son, recalls: "The dance school was held upstairs over the main part of the bank and quite often my father would have to tell Mother to quieten it down as it was annoying the customers".

Geraldine becomes very active in the performing arts life of the area, running dance classes in schools and at several venues in surrounding villages as well as at St Edmund's Hall in Cumberland Road in addition to maintaining her studio. She also sets up a Pantomime Group with Reginald Mumford, the ironmonger of No 66 High Street across the road. The group is named 'The Iron Muggers'.

In 1933 Geraldine and Reginald mount a production of Cinderella for the Southwold Junior Conservative Amateur Dramatic Society. To see a signed copy of the programme, click here.

Edward W Wright - Bank Manager, Barclays. To read David Wright's memories of his father, click here.

Geraldine Nash - School of Dancing

Edward Wright - Bank Manager, Barclays

Geraldine Nash - School of Dancing (CSP). Susan Wells, now Cllr Sue Doy, was a student of the Geraldine Nash school at this time. To see photographs of her and her friends performing in the Pier Pavilion, click here.

1960
Edward W Wright - Bank Manager, Barclays, retires this year. (Source: David Wright, son) He is replaced by...

L W Scott - Bank Manager

Continues to be a branch of Barclays Bank.