From Quill Pen to Computer
The Bank of England's Staff from 1694

The Bank of England opened for business in rented premises in July 1694 with a staff of 19. From that modest beginning to the present day the institution’s staff have been the very life-blood of the Bank, as indeed are the staff of any business. And it is this aspect of the Old Lady’s history that is celebrated in the exhibition.

Through objects, paintings, prints, books, documents and photographs this exhibition sheds some light on that little-seen, shy elusive creature, the Bank of England employee. Most lived unexceptional, law-abiding lives but some such as William Maynee, a clerk in the Accountant’s Office were catapulted into notoriety. Found guilty of forgery of Bank notes, he was hanged at Tyburn in 1731. Another, William Guest, a Teller (counterman) committed High Treason by filing gold coins. Drawn on a sledge to Tyburn, he was hanged there in October 1767.

But not all have been miscreants: Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind in the Willows was Secretary of the Bank from 1898 until his retirement in 1908 and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that some of the characters in the delightful children’s book were drawn from his Bank work.

In the past the Bank was not exactly renowned for being at the cutting edge of innovation and yet, in 1894, it was amongst the first organisations in the City to employ women on clerical duties. It caused shock waves to run through many City establishments.

• Also featured during the exhibition are:
  Weekly demonstrations of handwriting, a key skill for a Bank clerk, and visitors are invited to try writing with dip pens (Tuesdays only).
  
• 1904 Examinations
  Prospective employees had to pass an examination which involved handwriting, orthography (spelling), arithmetic, English composition and geography. Visitors can try the arithmetic section.
  
• An interactive screen with images of Bank people and workplaces from 1694 to present day.
  
• An example of the very latest computer in use in the Bank, with a scrolling display of images of newly-refurbished offices in contrast to the 18th, 19th and even 20th century workplaces.

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