Since 1849, Nottingham
Building Society has had a proud tradition
of putting its customers first. the principles of the founders were to promote
the culture of home ownership whilst providing a safe haven for savings. Over
150 years later, the se ideals have helped the Nottingham grow to become a
top 20 building society and influence why it intends remaining a traditional
building society.
With a
network of branches in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and South
Yorkshire, Nottingham Building Society is one of the most successful regional
building societies in the UK.
Key moments from the last 150 years
People of vision
In 1849, a group of people with vision and integrity formed Nottingham Building
Society to 'promote the construction of a better class of dwellings, suitable
for the middle and working classes, and also to provide a profitable and safe
place for small savings.' the y were led by 68 year old Samuel Fox (1781
1868), a leading Quaker and prominent local grocer. He was a generous man
who was involved with every philanthropic activity in the town.
Samuel Fox
From a drawing by his housekeeper Lucy Maria Woods.
Groceries
and savings accounts
In 1858, the Nottingham moved from George Street, Nottingham to the grocer’s
shop of Samuel Fox in High Street Place, Nottingham. So, Nottingham Building
Society was offering a combination of groceries and savings accounts nearly
150 years ago long before supermarkets came on the scene! When Samuel Fox
stepped down as chairman at the grand age of eighty in 1861, the Society moved
to 16 Fletcher Gate, Nottingham and opened daily.
Nottingham Market Place 1859
(Print courtesy of Nottingham City Council:Leisure and Community Service,
Angel Row Library.)
'Bank
Of England Governor opens new building society offices'
This was the headline in the Nottingham Journal’s edition of 29 September
1929. Engaging Sir Josiah Stamp, governor of the Bank of England at the time,
to unlock the doors of the new chief office was certainly a triumph for the Nottingham. During 1998, those same historic offices in Friar Lane, Nottingham
were given a complete facelift and were reopened by the Sheriff of Nottingham,
Councillor Chris Gibson.
Opening of Friar Lane
Sir Joseph Stamp, Governor of the Bank of England, opens the new Friar Lane
offices in 1929.
the war
years
During the Second World War, Nottingham suffered from enemy air raids but
to a lesser extent than many cities of comparable size. A major air raid on
the city occurred on the night of 8 May 1941 and among the buildings destroyed
were several at the southe astern corner of Friar Lane in the centre of Nottingham.
Except for minor blast damage, Nottingham Building Society’s offices, situated
just 50 yards away, escaped virtually unscathe d.
Expansion in the seventies
the Annual Report for 1974 announced the acquisition of 513 Upper Parliament
Street which became the Nottingham’s head office in 1975. During the seventies,
new branch offices were opened in over 35 locations including Beeston, Arnold,
Long Eaton, Mansfield, Skegness, Chesterfield and Sheffield.
Innovation in the eighties
One of the highlights of Nottingham Building Society’s progress in the eighties
was the arrival in 1983 of Britain’s first electronic home banking service
through a joint venture with Prestel, the n British Telecom’s computerised
information system. Ahead of its time, it pioneered electronic interaction
between the building society and its customers.
On 14
February 1981, the Nottingham’s hot air balloon, the Flying Cottage made its
maiden flight. the yellow balloon in the shape of a cottage was a popular
attraction and was regularly seen flying over Nottingham, or featured at many
special events.
Birth of Nottingham Property Services
the 1986 Building Societies Act allowed the range of services that building
societies could provide to be extended. Societies could establish estate agencies,
offer insurance services and provide unsecured loans. In 1989, Nottingham
Building Society launched a residential estate agency known as Nottingham
Property Services.Today, Nottingham Property Services has 19 branches and
has grown to be a leading estate agency in its trading area.
And the success continues...
Nottingham Building Society ended the twentieth century having achieved record
results. the Society now has total assets approaching £1.8 billion.
In the 21st century, Nottingham Building Society’s pledge is to deliver longterm
value for money through competitive rates and quality service, and to help
people achieve the ir financial ambitions.
