The History of the Royal Bank of Canada in Lambeth by Kathy Bayne for the Westminster Twp. Historical Society The Royal Bank opened in December 1912 in the West corner of the Queen Hotel, also known as the Junction Hotel and, in later years, the Longwoods Inn. This hotel stood where the Sunoco Station operated and is now being used as a car repair shop. In the year 1917, the bank office moved across the corner to Kelley’s store. Mr. Kelley was reportedly the bank’s best customer. Apparently, allegiances changed, and in 1921, the bank office relocated again to the newly renovated Longwoods Inn, where it remained until its own new building was completed in 1922. In 1920, the bank had purchased the lot at the corner of Colonel Talbot Road and Main Street. This had previously been part of the Lambeth Traction Line Railroad (1903 – 1918), which included a concrete building, a switching station, and a waiting room. Local resident Edna (Routledge) Crinklaw stated that she began working as a ledger keeper in the new bank building. There were many structural changes over the years. It was reported in the Lambeth News Star of 1967 that with every renovation, the building was literally torn down to the ground and rebuilt, with business continuing as usual. One day, the teller’s counter would be on one side, the next day on the other side. Staff and builders shuttled back and forth amid the dust and noise, carrying on with their everyday tasks. In 1991, a final impressive renovation was completed to mark the main corner at the crossroads of Lambeth. Copies of the book V illage at the Crossroads are available at the Heritage Room in the Lambeth Library. There was a 70th anniversary celebration at the bank branch in 1982 and yet another 125-year milestone celebration in 1994. By 2019, the Royal Bank was no longer in Lambeth. It was the end of any banking in Lambeth. Luckily, the Arbeau Sports Medicine Centre moved into this historic building in 2022 to continue the use of this remark- able landmark. Westminster Township HISTORICAL SOCIETY westminstertwphs.ca
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Lambeth Villager • November 2025 • Page 11
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