Umbrellas

Traditionally a number of umbrellas are kept in the entrance hall for use by customers.  At the foot of the cashiers' counter runs a gutter designed for dripping umbrellas.

When the bank first opened umbrellas were still a rare sight.  The diarist John Evelyn, a customer, recorded being shown a collection of curiosities in 1664 which included 'fans like those our ladies use, but much larger, and with long handles'.

The bank commissioned an umbrella to celebrate its third of a millennium.