Bank of England

The "Old Lady of Threadneedle Street" is the national bank of the United Kingdom - guardian of the national currency, adviser to the government in financial matters and responsible for the amount of money in circulation, withdrawing old banknotes from circulation and issuing new ones. It also influences the level of interest rates, though in August 1981 it abandoned the practice of publishing a minimum lending rate (previously "bank rate"). The national gold reserves are kept in its vaults. The Bank of England was incorporated by royal charter in 1694 as a private company in order to finance the war against Louis XIV of France, and was brought under government control only in 1946. The majestic building which it occupies was designed by Sir John Soane; begun in 1788, it was completed in 1833. Between 1924 and 1939 it was radically rebuilt by Sir Herbert Baker, who preserved Soane's facade and Corinthian columns but erected a new seven-story complex behind them. The statues above the main entrance are by Sir Charles Wheeler. Visitors are admitted only to the banking hall, and then only by prior arrangement.

Sir John Soane's major work (transitional) using shallow domes rather than semi-circular domes which were more typical of Renaissance architecture.

Classical in organization, but not in its use of orders.