Mrs. Coade’s Stone: cast to last

Explore a temporary display which explores the genius of an artificial material called Coade Stone and the pioneering businesswoman behind it

About the display

When: Monday 14 September until Spring 2028

Coade Stone – it’s all around us, yet few have heard of it. This artificial material became popular in the late 1700s and was used frequently in architectural decoration, including here at the Bank of England.

But who was the person behind this extraordinary material, and what were the secrets of its success?

Discover the remarkable story of Eleanor Coade, and where examples of Coade Stone still exist today – some of the locations may surprise you!

The display also links to our current exhibition, Building The Bank, which explores the Bank’s architecture and how it changed during architect Herbert Baker’s transformation of the site.

Check back on this page for more information about upcoming talks, tours and events which will be unveiled soon.

 
This page was last updated 17 July 2026