Bank of England Archive

Overview

The Bank of England Archive supports the Bank’s work today, and is open for research by appointment to visitors from all over the world.

The records in the Archive cover everything from minutes of our governing committees such as the Court of Directors to modern files on our policymaking and domestic and international work, as well as our relationship with other central banks and governments. We have a large collection of staff records and customer account and stock ledgers, which can be used to research genealogy.

The Archive includes architectural plans and drawings relating to the history of the Bank of England site, correspondence from our regional branches on developments in local trade and industry and records from our solicitors. The Archive also holds the Bank’s photograph collection, which documents the history of the building, staff and key events.

How to contact us

The easiest way to contact the Bank of England Archive is to email archive@bankofengland.co.uk. Alternatively you can call 020 3461 3388 or write to: Bank of England Archive, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AH.

Please note that the Archive will be closed to researchers for stocktake from the 5 - 16 November 2018. We will continue to answer enquiries during this period.

Using the Archive 

Anyone can visit the Bank of England Archive by appointment, as long as they are doing genuine research.

We recommend that you consult our online catalogue before you visit and let us know what records you would like to see. The catalogue contains descriptions of records, rather than the records themselves.

Online catalogue

If you cannot find what you are looking for, you are welcome to contact us with a brief summary of your research and we will be happy to advise you. In the case of genealogical enquiries, we can usually check a small amount of salary ledgers or customer account or stock indexes.

Making an appointment

The Archive is open by appointment only, Monday to Thursday from 10am until 4.30pm (please note our November stocktake closure). 

Appointments must be booked at least one working day ahead, via email or phone. We advise you to book well in advance and before making travel arrangements, as demand is high throughout the year and we cannot guarantee space will be available at short notice.

Each individual visitor requires an appointment, and appointments are for the named person only. If you are planning to visit with a colleague, friend or relative, each person will require a separate appointment. If you are unable to visit in person, you are welcome to send someone on your behalf.

ID requirements

Every visitor must provide, before their first visit, two separate forms of proof of identity, one showing a photograph (for example a passport, national identity card or driving licence) the other showing your address (for example a utility bill or bank statement). 

During your visit

Self-service photography

Access to records

Access to records

Online catalogue

How to get to the Bank of England Archive

The Archive is located inside the Bank of England in London. Visitors should use the main Bank entrance on Threadneedle Street, EC2R 8AH.

Visiting us

Digitised documents

A number of Archive documents have been digitised:

• Committee for Building Minutes 1764-1871
• Committee of Inspection Minutes 1783-90
• Committee for Lawsuits Minutes 1802-1908
• Committee of Treasury Minutes 1779 - 1991
• Daily Account Books 1851-1983
• Diaries of Bonamy Dobree 1857-61
• Diaries of Montagu Norman 1913-44
• Directors' Annual Lists 1694-1950
• First World War Service Records 1914-19
• Freshfields Prison Correspondence 1781-1840
• Index to Original Subscribers to Bank Stock 1694
• Memorial to Fallen Colleagues 1914-18

• The Bank of England 1914-21 (Unpublished War History)

• The Bank of England 1939-45 (Unpublished War History)

• The Old Lady - War Memorial Supplement, 1939-45
• Archive publications
  A variety of historic published material produced by the Bank of England during the twentieth century including recruitment brochures, histories of the Bank of England and the Bank Picquet.

Additionally, minutes of the Court of Directors meetings from 1694 to the late twentieth century are available.

Court of Directors