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."