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The Bank of England is more than 300 years old and it is not surprising that occasionally unusual stories about this venerable institution have surfaced. The Bank has been located in Threadneedle Street since 1734, gradually expanding its premises by purchasing properties until the present 3 ½ acre site was enclosed in 1828. The current building, which was almost completed by the end of 1939, is essentially a steel skeleton on which the stone is hung.

This gives the building the necessary flexibility as the land in this part of the City was originally marshy, but it also means that the building has its own repertoire of noises caused by the flexing of the construction materials. This, together with the fact that the building encompasses the original sites of houses, taverns and even a churchyard, has encouraged stories of "…things that go bump in the night…". However, the three stories here are authentic.