Bank of England Museum

Museum housed within the Bank of England which traces the history of the Bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. There are gold bars dating from ancient times to the modern market bar, coins and a unique collection of banknotes, as well as many items you might not expect to find - such as the pikes and muskets used to defend the Bank; the Roman pottery and mosaics uncovered when it was rebuilt in 1930 and documents relating to famous customers such as Horatio Nelson, George Washington and the Duchess of Marlborough.
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| Opening times: | Mon-Fri:10.00-17.00. Closed: weekends and Bank hols. |
|---|---|
| Booking and payment details | Free Maestro accepted |
| Accessibility | Ramp/level access |
Itchy review of Bank of England Museum

Where money comes from, oh yes indeed. Here you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about banks and money. You'll have to take a day off work to visit, as they're not open at weekends, but my child, you will learn. Maybe.
Lonely Planet review of Bank of England Museum

The centrepiece of the museum - which explores the evolution of money and the history of this venerable institution, and which is not nearly as dull as it sounds - is a postwar reconstruction of Soane's original stock office complete with mannequins in period dress behind original mahogany counters. Exhibits range from photographs and coins to a gold bar you can lift up (it's amazingly heavy). When James II declared war against France in the 17th century, he looked over his shoulder and soon realised he didn't have the funds to finance his armed forces. A Scottish merchant by the name of William Paterson came up with the idea of forming a joint-stock bank that could lend the government money and, in 1694, so began the Bank of England and the notion of national debt. The bank rapidly expanded in size and stature and moved to this site in 1734. The institution is now in charge of maintaining the integrity of the sterling and the British financial system and even sets interest rates since Gordon Brown empowered it to as Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1997. The gifted Sir John Soane built the original structure, although the governors saw fit to demolish most of his splendid bank in the early 20th century and replace it with a utilitarian, no-frills model they would soon regret.
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Bank of England Museum Talk Lecture
Recurring event
A presentation on the role and functions of the Bank of England. The presentation consists of a fifteen-minute film followed by a question and answer session in which the topics covered in the film can be explored in detail.The Pound in Your Pocket Exhibition
17 Apr 2008 to 31 Oct 2008
An exhibition on the story of your money and its value.Moneybox Modelling Workshop
21 Jul 2008 to 29 Aug 2008
Make and decorate your own moneybox to take home. You can make a gold bar money box or treasure chest. The choice is yours.Write in Time Workshop
11 Aug 2008 to 22 Aug 2008
Learn the fine art of Calligraphy and dip-pen writing with our professional scribe. Search for different writing styles within our displays and try out your skills by copying them.
Location Information Bank of England Museum
| Address: | Threadneedle Street, London London EC2R 8AH |
|---|---|
| Telephone: | +44 (0)20 7601 5491 |
| Fax: | +44 (0)20 7601 5808 |
| Email: | museum@bankofengland.co.uk |
| Website: | www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum |
| Public transport: | Bank Tube |
| By road: | Tube/DLR: Bank. Tube/Rail: Liverpool Street Rail: Fenchurch Street or Cannon Street (weekdays only) |
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© Collins Bartholomew 2008
