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Grasshopper sign JRU01_01_106
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Grasshopper sign JRU01_01_106
Martins Bank, Lombard Street, City of London. Looking east along Great George Street towards Big Ben and Parliament Square, with pedestrians on the pavement in the foreground, photographed 1950-1953.
The sign of the grasshopper was the crest of the Gresham family, and was used to distinguish the house of Thomas Gresham in Lombard Street in the 16th century. Gresham was a financier to Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, and founder of the Royal Exchange. The sign bears Greshams initials and the date 1563; it is believed he traded at the site from this date. The freehold of the Grasshopper, later numbered 68 Lombard Street, was purchased by John Martin in the 1740s. Martins Bank was demolished and rebuilt in 1930. The bank remained at the site until it merged with Barclays in 1969; the grasshopper was still hung outside 68 Lombard Street into the 21st century. It is believed that 68 Lombard Street is the longest continuous use of business premises as a bank
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 22656160
© Historic England Archive
20th Century Post Medieval Sign
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a slice of history in the heart of London's financial district. Taken between 1950 and 1953, it showcases Martins Bank on Lombard Street, with its iconic Grasshopper sign proudly displayed above the entrance. The significance of this grasshopper symbol dates back to the 16th century when it was used by Thomas Gresham, a renowned financier and founder of the Royal Exchange. The crest belonged to his family and distinguished their house on Lombard Street. The sign bears Gresham's initials and the year 1563, marking his presence at this very location. John Martin purchased the freehold of the Grasshopper in the mid-18th century, later becoming known as number 68 Lombard Street. Martins Bank occupied these premises until its merger with Barclays in 1969, making it one of the longest continuous uses as a bank in London's history. Despite demolitions and reconstructions over time, this photograph reminds us that tradition endures. Even into the modern era, well into the twenty-first century, passersby could still spot that familiar grasshopper hanging outside number 68 Lombard Street. Through this image captured by J R Uppington for Historic England, we are transported back to an era where pedestrians strolled along Great George Street towards Big Ben and Parliament Square while witnessing a piece of London's rich banking heritage standing tall amidst bustling city life.
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