A history of banknote printing at the Bank of England (2024)

24 January 1699

Banknote

Printed features, like the Britannia medallion and the ‘promise to pay’ on this example, began to be included on Bank of England notes in the late 1600s.

These features were printed offsite by a private firm based in London but little is known about their production.

1791

The Old Bank of England

By 1791, sending printing plates and banknote paper outside of the Bank’s own premises was becoming too risky.

Although a private firm continued to print the notes, the Bank moved production into their Threadneedle Street building in London. However, the demand for banknotes continued to increase.

1808

Sir John Soane's extension

By 1805, there were 27 printing presses being operated by over 50 men at the Bank’s building in Threadneedle Street.

Some of the men there got ill because of the cramped working conditions. In 1808, Printing Works was moved into a new extension of the building designed by the architect, Sir John Soane.

1808

Banknote production taken into the hands of the Bank

At the same time, the Bank’s governing board decided that production should not depend on a private firm for security reasons.

So the banknote Printing Works was ‘taken into the hands of the Bank’.

1900s

Printing department at Threadneedle Street

Banknotes continued to be printed in Threadneedle Street throughout the 1800s.

The Bank employed boys in their Printing Works until a 1918 Education Act made education compulsory up until 14 years old.

1914 to 1918

Printing works at Tabernacle Street

During the First World War, there was an increased demand for banknotes and other official printed products.

The Bank leased two buildings nearby in Tabernacle Street and moved its dividend book, warrant and envelope printing here.

1917

The Lunatic Hospital of St Luke's

In 1917, the Bank moved its Printing Works out of Threadneedle Street.

The new site was the former St Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics in Old Street, which the Bank had purchased the year before. The hospital was designed in the 1780s by architect George Dance and had an impressive 150 metre frontage.

1920

St Luke's Printing Works

By 1920, the hospital was converted into a state of the art facility by the architect F. W. Troup.

It was equipped with concrete floors, three large machinery halls and amenities for staff. At the time, it was described as ‘a model of what an up-to-date printing factory should be.’

1938

Printing Works at Overton, Hampshire

During the Second World War, the Bank moved the Printing Works to the countryside to protect banknote production from the threat of German bombs.

A factory was set up at Overton in Hampshire and production at St Luke’s was paused until after the war in 1945.

1954

Printing Hall Site Debden

Ten years later, the Printing Works at St Luke’s was working at full capacity.

The printing halls, strong rooms and staff facilities were badly overcrowded. The Bank decided to build a new banknote printing factory in Debden, Essex.

Drawings and paintings by Feliks Topolski

Building the Debden Printing Works