Ley & Co

Ley & Co (1790-1843), established in Bideford, was a past constituent of NatWest.

This private bank was established in 1790 as Cutcliffe, Ley, Glubb, Willcock. Its founders were Charles Cutcliffe, a Barnstaple banker; James Ley, a merchant; John Glubb, an attorney; and Stephen Willcock, a merchant. It was styled Cutliffe & Co, Willcock, Ley in 1797 and Ley & Co from 1810, following Cutcliffe’s retirement; it was also known as Bideford Old Bank. The bank was acquired by National Provincial Bank of England in 1843.

Summary of our archive holdings

Our archival records of Ley & Co have the reference code LEY.

For help understanding words used here, check our glossary of banking record types (PDF 68 KB).

• circular re amalgamation with National Provincial Bank of England 1844