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{{Infobox museum |
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| name = Bank of England Museum |
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| logo = |
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{{primary sources|date=August 2014}} |
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| image = london.bankofengland.arp.jpg |
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{{ref improve|date=August 2014}} |
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| map_type = central London |
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| pushpin_map = Central London |
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| former_name = |
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| established = {{Start date and age|1988|df=yes}} |
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| location = [[City of London]], [[London]], {{postcode|EC|2R}}<br />[[United Kingdom]] |
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| type = Bank of England Museum |
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| visitors = |
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| director = |
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| publictransit = {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} {{rint|london|dlr}} {{lus|Bank}} |
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| website = [https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/ Bank of England Museum] |
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}} |
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[[Image:london.bankofengland.arp.jpg|thumb|The Bank of England Museum is situated within the [[Bank of England]] (pictured in 2004).]] |
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The '''Bank of England Museum''' is located within the [[Bank of England]] in the [[City of London]]. Its entrance is in Bartholomew Lane, off [[Threadneedle Street]], close to [[Bank junction]] and [[Bank–Monument station|Bank tube station]]. The museum is open to the general public, free of charge, on weekdays (excluding [[Public holidays in the United Kingdom|bank holidays]]) and on the day of the [[Lord Mayor's Show]]. |
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{{Use British English|date=November 2014}} |
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The '''Bank of England Museum''', located within the [[Bank of England]] in the [[City of London]], is home to a collection of diverse items relating to the history of the Bank and the UK economy from the Bank’s foundation in 1694 to the present day. |
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The museum is open to the public, free of charge. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Initially, access to the Bank’s collection was by appointment only, with visitors escorted through the Bank to a small display area. In the 1980s, the Bank decided to make its collection (and the Bank of England as a whole) accessible to a wider audience. At the time it was confined to the Bank’s Rotunda, but the plan was to extend it to include Sir Herbert Baker’s ‘Soane Hall’, with a separate entrance being created in Bartholomew Lane.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Higgins Gardner & Partners|title=Bank of England Museum|url=http://www.higginsgardner.co.uk/Bank.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227184539/http://higginsgardner.co.uk/Bank.pdf |archive-date=27 February 2017 }}</ref> |
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With this in mind a new museum was planned, which was due to open in 1994, the year of the Bank’s tercentenary. However, a fire in 1986 caused severe damage to the area above the proposed site for the museum. It was decided to begin work on the museum then, rather than repair and rebuild at a later date. Designed by exhibition consultants [[Higgins Gardner & Partners]], it took 18 months to complete and the new museum was opened in 1988 by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]. |
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==Displays== |
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The Bank of England Museum covers around 10,000 sq ft (1,000 sq m) and displays a wide-ranging collection detailing the history of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to the modern day. The displays include a reconstruction of a late-18th century office; known as the Stock Office, this is where holders of Bank stock would come to collect their dividends. Displays in this area cover the history of the bank in roughly chronological order, including many images showing the rebuilding of the Bank in the inter-war years, and several figures in appropriate attire. Another section, called The Bank Today, uses modern technology to bring the Bank's current activities to a wider audience. |
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Some of the features of the new museum included:<ref name=":0" /> |
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In the rotunda area at the end of the tour, displays include the Bank's collections of [[banknote|note]]s and coins, books and documents, pictures, furniture, statues, silver and a genuine [[gold bar|bar]] of [[gold]] (99.79% pure gold) that can be handled. |
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* A reconstruction of the 18th-century Stock Office designed by Sir [[John Soane]]. |
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[[Kenneth Grahame]], the author of ''[[The Wind in the Willows]]'', worked for 30 years at the Bank, rising to the rank of Secretary, and the museum has a permanent display which includes his dramatic resignation letter.<ref>http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/museum/exhibitions/thewindinthewillows.htm</ref> |
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* The refurbished Rotunda contained a central, raised gold display, surrounded by 12 caryatids acting as guardians of the gold. |
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In the same year of its opening, it received the City Heritage Award and the Stone Federation Award for Outstanding Craftsmanship.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Elementsintro|url=https://www.codaprojects.com/BankofEngland.html|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.codaprojects.com}}</ref> |
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[[File:BoEmuseumsign.jpg|alt=Picture of the Bank of England Museum's front entrance sign|thumb|Sign at entrance of the Bank of England Museum]] |
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== Exhibitions == |
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In addition to the permanent collection, the museum curates rotating temporary exhibitions. |
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Current exhibitions include a digital exhibition on the new £50 featuring [[Alan Turing]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smartify {{!}} New £50 note featuring Alan Turing|url=https://smartify.org/tours/new-ps50-note-featuring-alan-turing|access-date=2021-10-11|website=Smartify}}</ref> |
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Recent temporary exhibitions include: |
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* [[Feliks Topolski]]: Drawing Debden (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Feliks Topolski: Drawing Debden|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/whats-on/2018/feliks-topolski|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> |
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* 325 Years, 325 Objects (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|title=325 years, 325 objects|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/whats-on/2019/325-years-exhibition|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> |
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==Permanent displays== |
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The Bank of England Museum covers around 10,000 square feet (930 m<sup>2</sup>) and displays a wide-ranging collection detailing the history of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to the modern day. |
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One of the highlights of the displays is the opportunity to hold a genuine [[Gold bar|bar]] of [[gold]] (99.79% pure gold), which can be handled from within its perspex box.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/visiting/rotunda.aspx|title=The Rotunda: 1800 to 1946 - Bank of England|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|access-date=21 October 2017|archive-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129132157/http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/visiting/rotunda.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> The value of the gold bar is updated each day and displayed alongside the bar. |
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Other permanent displays include a Banknote Gallery, history of the architecture of the Bank, and a Modern Economy display. |
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== Collections == |
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The collection contains over 40,000 items including archaeology, banknotes, coins, oil paintings, sculpture, antique furniture, decorative art and social history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore the collection|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/online-collections|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> |
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The collection focuses on the role of the Bank as the creator of Bank of England banknotes. Banknotes and items related to their design and production make up around 30,000 items of the collection, with banknotes themselves making up about 10,000 of these. Items in the banknotes collection include: |
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* examples of every note the Bank has ever made; |
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* printing plates; |
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* material samples |
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* examples of forgeries and counterfeits. |
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The museum also has a large collection of political cartoons relating to the Bank's history<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cartoons and caricatures|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/online-collections/artworks/cartoons-and-caricatures|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> and oil paintings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Artworks|url=https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/online-collections/artworks|access-date=2021-10-11|website=www.bankofengland.co.uk|language=en}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Portal|Banks}} |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category|Bank of England Museum}} |
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* [https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/ Bank of England Museum] |
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{{Museums and galleries in London}} |
{{Museums and galleries in London}} |
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[[Category:Bank of England|Museum]] |
[[Category:Bank of England|Museum]] |
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[[Category:Numismatic museums in the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Numismatic museums in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Museums in the City of London]] |
[[Category:Museums in the City of London]] |
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[[Category:Bank museums]] |
[[Category:Bank museums]] |
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[[Category:Financial history of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:1988 establishments in England]] |
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{{UK-museum-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 09:27, 21 May 2024
 | |
  Location within Central London | |
| Established | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Location | City of London, London, EC2R United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′51″N 0°05′17″W / 51.514057°N 0.088059°W |
| Type | Bank of England Museum |
| Public transit access |   Bank |
| Website | Bank of England Museum |
The Bank of England Museum, located within the Bank of England in the City of London, is home to a collection of diverse items relating to the history of the Bank and the UK economy from the Bank’s foundation in 1694 to the present day.
The museum is open to the public, free of charge.
History[edit]
Initially, access to the Bank’s collection was by appointment only, with visitors escorted through the Bank to a small display area. In the 1980s, the Bank decided to make its collection (and the Bank of England as a whole) accessible to a wider audience. At the time it was confined to the Bank’s Rotunda, but the plan was to extend it to include Sir Herbert Baker’s ‘Soane Hall’, with a separate entrance being created in Bartholomew Lane.[1]
With this in mind a new museum was planned, which was due to open in 1994, the year of the Bank’s tercentenary. However, a fire in 1986 caused severe damage to the area above the proposed site for the museum. It was decided to begin work on the museum then, rather than repair and rebuild at a later date. Designed by exhibition consultants Higgins Gardner & Partners, it took 18 months to complete and the new museum was opened in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II.
Some of the features of the new museum included:[1]
- A reconstruction of the 18th-century Stock Office designed by Sir John Soane.
- The refurbished Rotunda contained a central, raised gold display, surrounded by 12 caryatids acting as guardians of the gold.
In the same year of its opening, it received the City Heritage Award and the Stone Federation Award for Outstanding Craftsmanship.[2]
Exhibitions[edit]
In addition to the permanent collection, the museum curates rotating temporary exhibitions.
Current exhibitions include a digital exhibition on the new £50 featuring Alan Turing.[3]
Recent temporary exhibitions include:
- Feliks Topolski: Drawing Debden (2018)[4]
- 325 Years, 325 Objects (2019)[5]
Permanent displays[edit]
The Bank of England Museum covers around 10,000 square feet (930 m2) and displays a wide-ranging collection detailing the history of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to the modern day.
One of the highlights of the displays is the opportunity to hold a genuine bar of gold (99.79% pure gold), which can be handled from within its perspex box.[6] The value of the gold bar is updated each day and displayed alongside the bar.
Other permanent displays include a Banknote Gallery, history of the architecture of the Bank, and a Modern Economy display.
Collections[edit]
The collection contains over 40,000 items including archaeology, banknotes, coins, oil paintings, sculpture, antique furniture, decorative art and social history.[7]
The collection focuses on the role of the Bank as the creator of Bank of England banknotes. Banknotes and items related to their design and production make up around 30,000 items of the collection, with banknotes themselves making up about 10,000 of these. Items in the banknotes collection include:
- examples of every note the Bank has ever made;
- printing plates;
- material samples
- examples of forgeries and counterfeits.
The museum also has a large collection of political cartoons relating to the Bank's history[8] and oil paintings.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Higgins Gardner & Partners. "Bank of England Museum" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 February 2017.
- ^ "Elementsintro". www.codaprojects.com. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Smartify | New £50 note featuring Alan Turing". Smartify. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Feliks Topolski: Drawing Debden". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "325 years, 325 objects". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "The Rotunda: 1800 to 1946 - Bank of England". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Explore the collection". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Cartoons and caricatures". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Artworks". www.bankofengland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bank of England Museum.
