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The central bank of the UK at the heart of London's financial district |
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The Bank of England is the central bank of the UK and is at the heart of London’s financial district. The bank earned the nickname "The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street", following a cartoon in 1797 by Britain’s first political cartoonist James Gilray, depicting the bank as an old lady sitting on a chest full of gold, wearing a dress made from £1 notes and preventing the Prime Minister from getting at the gold! |
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"The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street" Source WikiMedia (PD) |
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The Bank was founded in 1694 to provide King William III with much needed funds to finance a war with the French. In return for a loan of £1.2M the bank was granted with a royal charter to print notes and take deposits. This made the Bank of England the world’s first privately owned national bank. As well as providing banking services to the nation, the Bank of England manages the UK's foreign exchange and gold reserves. |
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Figures and detail on the front facade Photo TourNorfolk |
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Figure at the top of the building Photo TourNorfolk |
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Inside the Bank of England Museum - many of the displays are interactive and fun for children Photo Bank of England Museum |
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Figures inside the museum, tell the Bank of England story Photo Bank of England Museum |
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Get to touch a bar of Gold in the museum! Photo Bank of England Museum |
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The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the bank and is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Entry is FREE. Tel: 020 7601 5545 |
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