Beckett & Co (Leeds)

This private bank was established in around 1774 as Wilson, Arthington, Beckett & Calverley; it was also known as Leeds Bank. John Beckett, one of the bank's original partners, came from a family of Leeds woollen merchants. He developed the bank alongside his merchanting interests, which included the import and export of goods to Portugal.

The bank was known as Beckett, Calverley, Lodge & Co in the late 1780s; Beckett, Calverley, Lodge & Wilson from 1790; Beckett, Calverley & Co from 1797; Beckett, Blayds & Co from about 1812; and Beckett & Co from about 1829. The bank issued its own notes.

In 1868 it acquired Cooke, Vernon, Walker, Jackson & Milner of Doncaster, and in 1875 Bower, Hall & Co of Beverley, Hull and Malton. The Beverley business, also known as Beckett & Co, remained independent of the Leeds bank. The Leeds business was also associated with Beckett, Birks & Co of Barnsley, a bank established by John’s brother Joseph in 1796.

By 1919 the bank had a note circulation of £153,690 and deposits of £11m. In 1921 the Beckett family banks amalgamated with London County Westminster & Parr’s Bank.

Branches: The bank opened about 17 branches and sub-branches between 1774 and 1921. At the time of the 1921 merger 8 branches and 9 sub-branches were still operating. 

Published histories

• TE Gregory, The Westminster Bank through a Century (London: Oxford University Press, 1936)
• WCE Hartley, Banking in Yorkshire (Clapham: Dalesman Publishing Co Ltd, 1975)

Our archive holdings

A summary list of our archival records of Beckett & Co of Leeds can be found on the Archives Hub website.