The museum's website (visit
link) tells us:
"The Bank of England Museum tells the story
of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the
United Kingdom's central bank.
Standing at the centre of the UK's financial system, the Bank is committed to
promoting and maintaining financial stability as its contribution to a healthy
economy. The Bank sets interest rates to control inflation, issues banknotes and
works to maintain a stable financial system.
The historical displays include material drawn from the Bank's own collections
of books, documents, silver, prints, paintings, banknotes, coins and
photographs. There is a display of gold, including Roman and modern gold bars,
alongside pikes and muskets once used to defend the Bank. Computer technology
and audio visual displays explain the Bank's present day role.
This area of the site will help you to plan your visit. Use the interactive
floor plan to take a tour of the Museum. Find out more about the group visits
that we offer and our facilities, including those for disabled visitors. Check
our opening hours and how to find us.
Admission to the Museum is free of charge for everyone and includes a free
museum guide, which is available in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian,
Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Welsh. Audio guides are available in English.
Admission to the temporary exhibitions and events in the Museum is also free."
It goes on (visit
link) to tell us:
"Having been in existence for more than 300 years the Bank of England has,
unsurprisingly, accumulated a considerable number of items associated with its
history. These items are grouped into 'Collections'. Some of them, such as
banknotes and furniture, represent the survival of tools used in the everyday
working of the Bank whilst others, such as the cartoons, have been acquired over
the years either by purchase or presentation. Items from the Bank's collections
are displayed in its Museum where they are used to illustrate the history of the
institution and its role today at the centre of the UK economy."
The building is Grade I listed and its entry,
at English Heritage (visit
link), reads:
"Largely rebuilt by Sir Herbert Baker in
1921 to 37. Listed for greatly altered screen-wall by Sir John Soane, late C18
to early C19 and for various elements of old building, by Soane and by Sir
Robert Taylor (2nd half C18) which were reconstituted in something like their
original form within the new structure. Screen wall of channelled Portland stone
with order of Corinthian columns and pilasters, variously applied, and crowning
balustrade. 8 columned portico to main entrance in Threadneedle Street with
round-arched openings. Similar colonnade, in antis, to Bartholomew Lane.
Elaborated, rounded corners, especially the north west which now has footway cut
through it. Modern statue of Soane facing Lothbury. Within gateway from Lothbury
is reconstruction, in altered form of Soanes's Lothbury Courtyard (1798 to 99)
with Corinthian colonnades, sculpture etc, now marred by temporary glass roof.
Most important reconstructed interior is Taylor's Court Room with arcade at
either end screening vaulted lobby. Splendid plaster decoration (altered by
Baker) and 3 chimney pieces of Sienna and white marble. Clock with elaborate
frame of gilt bronze. Octagonal Committee Room adjoining retains original
ceiling design, marble chimney piece and 4 built in bookcases. Other interiors
copied to some extent in new work include former Consols Office, Colonial
Office, Dividend Office, Prince's Street Vestibule, lobby to Rotunda (all by
Soane) and semi-dome to Bartholomew Lane vestibule by Taylor. Amongst fixtures
should be mentioned marble statue of William III by Cheere in Prince's Street
entrance hall and 2 patterned Roman (C2 or C3) mosaic pavements at foot of
principal staircase and in what is now the museum."