In
1694 William Patterson, a wealthy businessman, subscribed considerable
funds to help William III fight a war against France. In return for
this help, Patterson was granted a Royal Charter to establish the
Bank of England. The bank started at Mercer's Hall, Cheapside and
later moved to Grocer's Hall, Princess Street. Finally, in 1734 the
Bank of England established itself at Threadneedle Street. The building
was enlarged by Sir John Soane in 1788.
Rudolf
Ackermann, Bank of England, from Microcosm of London
(1808)
(1)
William Pyne, The
Microcosm of London (1808)
The
print represents the hall in which bank notes are issued and exchanged:
it is a noble room, seventy-nine feet by forty, and contains a very
fine marble statue of King William III. The Bank of England may be
considered as the main spring by which the commercial payments of
his country are transacted.
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