Deposits, Spanish Dollars and Specie were all kept in separate vaults beneath the bank. All were accessible from the central Bullion Court. From 1804 to 1830 Soane built and reuiblt the vaults depending on the Bank's storage and security requirements.

On the 13th of November 1804 the Building Committee ordered Soane to secure the vaulted cellars for the 'large amount of Spanish Dollars expected' (Building Committee minutes, p.16). Earlier (4 October 1804) the British Navy had attacked four Spanish ships carrying valuable cargo. Three of the frigates were brought back to England, delivering to the British Government about £900,000 worth of commodities and Spanish Dollars (in silver and gold). Vaults under the Court Room and the Waiting Rooms were secured for the Spanish Dollars. The other vaults (beneath the Governor's and Deputy Governor's rooms, lobbies and Storekeeper's room) were secured for Bullion and other storage, and two more small cellars were arched over and secured. A corridor was built just south of the Bullion Court, connecting these newly secured vaults to the Bullion Office.

For alternative designs for the vaults around the Bullion Court, dated June 1806, see SM 9/4/42 and 41, drawings 13 and 14 in phase 3:1.

Madeleine Helmer, 2011