The Post Office Savings Bank (formed in 1861) opened its Bonds and Stocks Office in Lytham St. Annes in 1956, when premium bonds were first introduced by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Harold Macmillan under the control of the Department for National Savings.
Following additional work transferred from the Harrogate office in 1963, and the subsequent aquisition of the Post Office Savings Bank by HM Treasury (who re-branded it 'National Savings') in 1969, work began in the early 1970s to create a new Bonds and Stocks Office office in Marton, Blackpool, which was opened in circa 1978.
In 1996, National Savings became an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and 2002 saw a further name change to National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Responsibility for Premium Bonds still remains at the Blackpool office (albeit outsourced to Atos, an IT services company) - but in the Moorland Building, a more modern office block (built 1993) at the northern edge of the site.
However, the remaining three buildings, including the eight-storey Tower Building, are suffering from a range of issues including widespread asbestos, and as such, are to be demolished to build housing and new offices. Development is currently underway, with parts of the site already demolished.
Pics
Former staff entrance
Site from west
Tower Building from ground
Auditorium of asbestos
Inside Tower Building base
Roof level of Tower Building base
Looking towards Blackpool Tower over auditorium
Hexagonal edges
Looking out at Stock Building and Computer Building
Corridor
Largest quadrangle with demolished link bridges
Looking towards Little Marton Windmill
Window cleaning cradle suspension track for base of Tower Building
Open windows
Terrace
Looking out over Haven Marton Mere Holiday Park
Level 7
Looking towards Lytham St. Annes - home of the original Bonds and Stocks Office
Looking towards Blackpool Pleasure Beach (left) and Blackpool Tower (right)
Missing banisters - several storeys up
Lift shaft
Rubble-covered stairs
Beneath demolished Tower/Computer Building link bridge
Thanks for looking
Following additional work transferred from the Harrogate office in 1963, and the subsequent aquisition of the Post Office Savings Bank by HM Treasury (who re-branded it 'National Savings') in 1969, work began in the early 1970s to create a new Bonds and Stocks Office office in Marton, Blackpool, which was opened in circa 1978.
In 1996, National Savings became an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and 2002 saw a further name change to National Savings and Investments (NS&I). Responsibility for Premium Bonds still remains at the Blackpool office (albeit outsourced to Atos, an IT services company) - but in the Moorland Building, a more modern office block (built 1993) at the northern edge of the site.
However, the remaining three buildings, including the eight-storey Tower Building, are suffering from a range of issues including widespread asbestos, and as such, are to be demolished to build housing and new offices. Development is currently underway, with parts of the site already demolished.
Pics
Former staff entrance
Site from west
Tower Building from ground
Auditorium of asbestos
Inside Tower Building base
Roof level of Tower Building base
Looking towards Blackpool Tower over auditorium
Hexagonal edges
Looking out at Stock Building and Computer Building
Corridor
Largest quadrangle with demolished link bridges
Looking towards Little Marton Windmill
Window cleaning cradle suspension track for base of Tower Building
Open windows
Terrace
Looking out over Haven Marton Mere Holiday Park
Level 7
Looking towards Lytham St. Annes - home of the original Bonds and Stocks Office
Looking towards Blackpool Pleasure Beach (left) and Blackpool Tower (right)
Missing banisters - several storeys up
Lift shaft
Rubble-covered stairs
Beneath demolished Tower/Computer Building link bridge
Thanks for looking
