Louis Flood, Digital Engagement Office
Merry Christmas and Seasons Greetings from all of us here at the Bank of England Museum. To mark the festive period, we’re sharing a few objects from our collection and from the Bank of England Archive to help get you into the seasonal spirit.
Recipe for Citron Cream cake, The Old Lady, 1966. Archive Reference E8/185.
We’re kicking off with one of the best parts of Christmas: food – specifically, dessert. This recipe for Citron Cream Cake was published in the 1966 issue of The Old Lady, the Bank’s internal staff magazine. The above recipe offers up a citrusy counterpart to the seasonal stodginess of Christmas pudding.
The Old Lady was first published back in 1921. Over the years, it featured a mix of domestic topics including sports reports, club and society news, articles, stories, poems, reviews, and photographs, alongside retirements and obituaries.
(cover) The Old Lady, 1966. Archive Reference E8/185.
Something to look forward to each December was the festive cover of the magazine, such as for the above issue, which featured an illustrated Christmas scene of Santa visiting the Bank of England on the eve of the big day.
(cover) The Old Lady, December 1984 (E8/257).
(cover) The Old Lady, December 1990 (E8/282).
Other covers have recorded the Bank’s Christmas decorations, such as in the 1984 and 1990 issues. It's a long-standing tradition for staff and visitors alike to be greeted by a grand Christmas tree as they enter the Threadneedle Street building. In the '84 issue (left), the Bank's head gatekeeper in his ceremonial dress is pictured next to the tree in the entrance hall.
The Old Lady magazine ceased publication in December 2007, to be replaced by its digital counterpart. All issues of The Old Lady are preserved in the collection of the Bank of England Archive and trace over 80 years of evolving life at the Bank.
Our next objects are these Christmas card illustrations by Dennis ‘Danny’ Denahy, who worked at the Bank for forty years between 1952 and 1992. Denahy had a varied career at the Bank, working in many roles including as a Bank Messenger. During his time at the Bank, he produced illustrations that reflected the many comings and goings of daily life that he witnessed on the job. He’s perhaps best remembered, however, for the Christmas cards he designed.
Danny Denahy, ‘Bank of England Christmas scene’, watercolour, 1990. Bank of England Museum: 1994/021
Danny Denahy, ‘Bank of England Christmas scene’, watercolour, 1990. Bank of England Museum: 1994/020
Danny Denahy, ‘Gatekeeper Snowman’, watercolour, 1989. Bank of England Museum: 1989/235
List of widows of former Bank Officers, who are poor and in need of charity, and list of officers living under poor conditions, with sum given to them; 24 Dec 1747. Archive Reference 13A84/7/1.
Christmas is historically a time for giving. Our last object comes from the Bank of England Archive which record some of the charitable donations made by the Bank during Christmas time to widows of former Bank Officers and other individuals in need – formerly referred to as the ‘Poor Box’.
Between 1745 and1758, donations were collected from beneficiaries – namely the Bank Governor, Deputy Governor, and Director – amounting to a value of £5 (roughly £780 today). The example above comes from Christmas Eve, 1747.
The Bank continues to endorse charitable activities today and nominates three charities to raise funds for each year.