The entrance building was designed and built by George Sampson as part of the original Bank, 1732-34. It was subsequently altered by both Robert Taylor and John Soane. The functions of the original building were expressed on its street front. The ground floor had a rusticated front with a triple-arched entrance and contained areas of utility including staff accommodation. The first (principal) storey had two lavishly decorated transfer offices and a lobby that looked onto Threadneedle Street through large windows framed by an Ionic colonnade. Examples of such stratification in mercantile buildings can be found in Bramante's Palazzo Caprini (c. 1512), later developed in Palladio's Palazzo Iseppo Porto (1540s) and shown in the fifth book of Serlio's Tutte l'opere d'architettura (1619).

Robert Taylor's east wing extension housed the new transfer halls, rendering those inside the entrance building redundant. Thus the first floor of the entrance building was converted into two separate residential apartments, one for the Chief Accountant and the other for the Gate Porter. A second stair was installed to provide private access to the second apartment.

Soane carried out building works on the entrance building as well. He added a third residential apartment, to be occupied by one of the Parlour Door Keepers. He was also asked by the directors to lower the chamber floor and windows and install garrets in the roof, but it is unclear whether these orders were completed. He also included an office for himself and his Clerk of Works, Walter Payne. Payne served as Soane's representative at the Bank from 1788 until 1833, though it is unclear whether his office remained in this building for the duration.

Madeleine Helmer, 2010

Group

Digitisation of the Drawings Collection has been made possible through the generosity of the Leon Levy Foundation

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