Woods and Co (Union Bank, Newcastle Upon Tyne)
This partnership was formed as Woods, Parker and Co to absorb a joint stock bank, the Newcastle, Shields and Sunderland Union Bank, which had got into difficulties. This circuitous transaction was accomplished successfully thanks to the efforts of senior partner William Woods, who led a group of fellow merchants and shipowners. This unusual takeover is thought to be unique in British banking history, bucking the prevailing trend of private banks giving way to the new joint stock companies. Woods and Co grew to be a prosperous regional bank and in 1897 was the first acquisition by the newly-created Barclay and Co Ltd.
Material available at Group Archives:
- comprehensive partners' records
- balance sheets 1860-1870
- customer signature books
- copy letter books of management 1880s-1890s
- amalgamation papers