Dusty Archives

Bank of England Museum

by Paul Chamberlain

This may seem an unusual topic to report on in a Napoleonic magazine, but I was there last summer doing some research on banknotes forged by French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars. I spent a number of interesting days in the Archive section, and for a bit of light relief I visited the museum.

The year 1997 was the Bicentenary of the first national issue of banknotes by the Bank of England, and the story of these early notes is told within the museum, examining the problems of early forgers (including prisoners of war), and explaining the story of these notes through to the present day. On display was a forged £ 5 note discovered on board a prison hulk at Chatham in 1812.

The museum has a range of free leaflets that tell the story of banknotes, coins and the Bank of England over the centuries. One interesting booklet I picked up was A Brief History of the One Pound Note 1797-1988, telling the story of E1 notes from their inception during the war with Revolutionary France. The museum traces the history of the Bank from its foundation by Royal Charter in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. On display are documents relating to the finances of famous characters such as the Duchess of Marlborough George Washington and Horatio Nelson. One of the most impress~ve exhibits is a reconstruction of the Bank Stock Office, a late 18th century banking hall, complete with clerks and customers in period dress.

Artifacts

However, aside from the story of money and the fascinating displays within the museum, there are some display cases containing items to do with the Corps of Bank Volunteers. This body was formed in 1798 with a strength of 450 officers and men, and its sole function was the defence of the Bank in the event of French invasion or civil unrest. The Corps was disbanded in 1802, reformed in the following year, and disbanded again in 1814. If the French had invaded, the Corps of Bank Volunteers would have covered the removal, if necessary, of the Bank's gold and silver along with the printing presses and important records to a remote location in the country.

One display case contains a red uniform coat worn during 1804-14 with green facings, and eight buttons in pairs. Other items include officers swords complete with sword knots (1796 pattern, including one for a mounted officer); a small Union flag marked BEV, which was possibly a drill marker; glass goblets engraved with designs of the Volunteers, a number of prints of the Volunteers at drill and on sentry duty; a uniform button of the Grenadier Company circa 1800; badges dated 1798 (possibly for the cartridge box}, marksmanship medals, one silver dated 1799 and the other gold dated 1805. There is also the Commission from George lll appointing Alexander Champion to the post of Adjutant to the Supplementary Corps of the Bank of England Volunteers. Champion was a Director of the Bank from 1794 until 1809. After 1814 the guarding of the Bank was taken over by regular troops, who had this responsibility until 1973.

The museum is housed within the Bank of England itself, which is located in Threadneedle Street. The entrance to the museum is in Bartholomew Lane. It is open Monday to Friday 10.00-17.00, closed weekends and Public and Bank Holidays. Admission is free. For a recorded message about the museum telephone 0171 601 5545.

The museum has an Archive section. For enquiries about the Bank's history and Museum collections contact: The Curator, Museum and Historical Research, Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH. Telephone 0171 601 3866.

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