A LUDLOW bank is, this week, celebrating 100 years of operation at the same site in the town centre.

The quaintly-named North and South Wales Bank opened its doors at the Bull Ring on Monday January 18, 1904.

Four years later it was part of the London City and Midland Bank and now it boasts some 3,700 customers as part of the global HSBC conglomerate.

The bank bought 9 Bull Ring for £350.

Previously, the building had been a private home then it housed a shoemaker, a tailor, printer, watchmaker and finally Caroline Southwood dressmaker.

The thriving rural economy of the time required a big bank so number 10, formerly Thomas Lowe, fishmonger, was soon bought for £900.

From 1907-08 the area's harvest prospects for hay, wheat, oats barley and turnips were reported as average or above average and of fair or good quality.

But, in spite of this, business was declining and amalgamation with the Midland came the following year.

Mr Hanson H Jones, the original manager, stayed on and only retired, on full salary, in 1919.

During the First World War, three male staff joined up.

Anthony Grafton Sprague, deputy manager, became a Captain in the Welsh Regiment and survived the conflict as did his fellow clerks.

He succeeded Hanson Jones as manager until his own retirement in 1934.

Today's banking would be quite baffling to these erstwhile employees. Electronic transfers, internet banking, automated clearing services, cash dispensing machines and much more.

Today's manager, David Wakeman sees the agricultural customers as just as important today as ever before, although now the bank has a specialist team to deal with their needs.

One hundred years is a long time but some things don't ever change.