Bank of England Bullion Vault in 1870

It is not clear what is being moved on the trolley – possibly gold bars, but more probably bags full of Sovereigns.

The vault shown here was part of the building designed by Sir John Soane, one of the UK’s greatest architects, who began his 45-year career at the Bank in 1788. He extended the Bank until it had doubled in size to 3.5 acres, and eventually enclosed it within a windowless wall in 1828.

The structure of Soane’s Bank of England remained more or less untouched until it was demolished and a new building was erected by architect Sir Herbert Baker between 1925 and 1939, which included the extensive vaults in three sub-levels below the ground floor. However, Soane’s outer wall remains in place to this day..