Bank of England Building

The Bank of England building on Castle Street features a heavy, ornate facade of Portland stone topped by a prominent triangular pediment. Sir John Soane designed this branch in the eighteen twenties, choosing a style that mirrored the strength expected of a national treasury. In eighteen forty-two, a group of thieves tunneled into the vault from a neighboring cellar. They removed a large quantity of gold, but failed to leave with it after a night watchman discovered the breach and raised the alarm.