The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street

The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street.

A View of the Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London. The Centre erected 1733, G. Sampson, Architect. Sir Robert Taylor, Knt., Architect of the Wings.

Author: BOWLES, Henry Carington and CARVER, Samuel.

Publication place: London.

Publisher: Published by F. West, 83 Fleet Street.

Publication date: circa 1840.

Physical description: Engraving with hand colour.

A later impression of Henry Carington Bowles and Samuel Carver’s print of the Bank of England. West has acquired the Bowles plates when Robert Wilkinson’s (Bowles and Carver’s successor) stock and plates were auctioned by Sotheby’s on 29 September 1825. West would republished the print in ​‘A Collection of Views of Old London and its Environs’.

The print shows the Bank from Threadneedle Street, with the central gateway designed by George Sampson in 1734, and additional screen walls by Sir Robert Taylor. By the time West produced his book, the Bank had been almost completely rebuilt by Sir John Soane. Soane replaced Taylor’s rotunda, remodelled the Threadneedle Street entrance, and extended the bank to the north west. 

Bibliography

Adams 193.20.

• Adams, B. (1983). London Illustrated 1604–1851. London: The Library Association.

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This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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