1788-1833
Sir John Soane
Sir John Soane was one of England's greatest architects. His
appointment in October 1788 as 'Architect and Surveyor' to the
Bank was the most important of his distinguished career. The
Bank was his main pre-occupation for the ensuing 45 years until
his retirement in 1833 when he described it as '...a situation
which has long been the pride and boast of my life'. He extended
the Bank's site and eventually enclosed it in 1828 with a windowless
wall.'
The structure of 'Soane's Bank of England' remained more or
less untouched until it was demolished and a new building erected
by the architect Herbert Baker between the two World Wars.
