This building on the corner of St. Ann's Square and St. Ann Street is a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland but originally it was Heywood's Bank.

Nathaniel Heywood was Vicar of Ormskirk Church during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period and an ardent supporter of the Cromwell cause. He had 2 sons, Nathaniel and Richard. Richard emigrated to Ireland where he became a successful merchant. He had no children but "adopted' his brother's son, Benjamin. Benjamin in turn married the daughter of General Arthur Graham of Armagh and they had two sons, Arthur and Benjamin. The two brothers returned to England and became 'merchant venturers'.

In 1788 Benjamin parted company with his brother and with his two sons, Nathaniel and Benjamin Arthur, set up a separate bank in Manchester which became Heywood Brothers & Co. The fine building is made of a pale sandstone and has three storeys with balconies on the first floor.

Arthur Heywood continued in Liverpool as Arthur Heywood, Sons & Company. In 1883, Heywood's Bank was sold to the Bank of Liverpool Limited for the sum of £400,000.

Visit the "Manchester View" Homepage