Your story about Barclays bank's 200 years in Brighton (The Argus, August 9) reminded me of when I started work as a junior clerk at one of the many insurance offices then existing in West Street.

As I was only 15, I did not have a bank account so my "generous" salary of £150 per annum was paid into a "sundry persons" account in monthly instalments and I had to visit Barclays in North Street to draw it in cash.

This was a fascinating building as it was originally the home of the Brighton Union Bank, which issued its own banknotes (as did many banks at the time).

Around the walls were framed notes issued by the bank together with several forgeries bearing a crossing stamp "forged".

This branch was closed after the present imposing building at 139/142 North Street was opened and the old bank was incorporated into Hannington's.

Also closed was Martin's Bank on the corner of North Street and Meeting House Lane as this had been taken over by Barclays.

There are two errors in your story as Constable's draper's shop was on the same side as Brighton Union Bank because North Street is numbered according to the Brighton tradition, that is to say, up one side and down the other.

The Clock Tower branch was at No 126 (not 7 and 8 as this would have put it next to the former Brighton Union Bank), right on the corner of North Street and Queen's Road and adjacent to the Regent Cinema and Ballroom.

-Peter Bailey, Brighton