KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES BANK
There is very little documentary evidence about the
early days of banking in Kingston. In about 1792 a Mr. Rowlls started a
banking business alongside his drapery business. In the early 1800s a Mr
Henry Knight bought the drapery business and became a partner in the bank.
Unissued
5 Guinea note of c1805
By 1808 William Shrubsole had joined the bank.
The business was now styled Knight, Haydon (William Haydon of Guildford Bank),
and Shrubsole.
£1 note issued in 1808
The bank went through a number of partnership changes
and in 1816 became William Shrubsole & Robert Lambert. By 1846 William Shrubsole
jun.r. had joined. In 1873 the drapery business was sold, but
Shrubsole and Lambert remained in control of the bank until it was taken over,
in 1894, by Parr's Bank.