Molineux, Whitfeld and Co, Lewes
Lewes Old Bank was founded in 1789 by Francis Whitfeld, wool-stapler and grocer; Joseph Molineux, ironmonger; Richard King, soap-boiler and tallow-chandler, and Benjamin Comber, gentlemen, who had some banking experience. Money had been deposited with them by local tradesmen at Lewes market in exchange for notes and bills. By 1789 they felt the time was right to form a partnership in order to pursue the more systematic conduct of banking, and each partner put up £5000 capital to start the business. The bank continued to expand and eventually amalgamated, in 1896, to establish Barclay and Co Ltd.
Material available at Group Archives:
- partners' records including agreements and ledgers 1789 onwards
- balance books 1781-1795, 1875-1891
- declaration of confidence in the bank 1825
- balance sheets 1891 onwards
- bank notes and registers 1811 onwards
- examples of passbooks and cheques
- amalgamation papers