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The Sewer Story

One of the most persistent stories concerning the Bank is that of the man who got into the gold vaults by way of the sewers.

About 1836 the Directors of the Bank are said to have received an anonymous letter stating that the writer had access to their bullion. Somewhat melodramatically he offered to meet them in the bullion vault at any hour they chose.

Although disbelieving at first, the Directors were finally persuaded to assemble one night in the vault. At the appointed hour a noise was heard from beneath the floor and the mysterious correspondent suddenly appeared from below merely by displacing a few floor boards.

Apparently he was a sewerman who, during repair work to the sewers, had discovered an old drain which ran immediately under the bullion vault. He might have carried away enormous sums but in fact nothing had been removed and for his honesty the Bank is said to have rewarded him with a gift of £800.

Although there is no confirmation of the details in official documents, the story does appear to have some basis in fact. In a letter addressed by the Bank Architect, C R Cockerell, to the Building Committee in February 1839 is the following statement:

"In May 1836, having had reason to apprehend danger from our sewers, it was discovered that an open and unobstructed sewer led directly from the gold vaults down to Dowgate".

On the 21 April 1836, the Secretary of the Bank wrote to the Commissioners of Sewers asking for plans of the sewers and drains surrounding the Bank building "and as far as can be within the Bank premises also". Several letters were also sent to George Bailey, the Curator of the Soane Museum*, in 1837 and 1838 asking that plans of the drains beneath the Bank premises, which had been retained by Soane when he retired, should be returned to the Bank. There was evidently some anxiety that there might be drains, other than the one discovered, which might provide access to the interior of the premises.

* Sir John Soane was the Bank of England's architect 1788-1833.