SAVED BY WORKMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 92, 16 October 1934, Page 16

SAVED BY WORKMAN

BANK OF ENGLAND'S GOLD

The Old Lady of Tbreadneedle Street —the Bank oi' England —who celebrated her 240 th birthday on July 27, is now in process of increasing her strength and stature, says the "NewsChronicle." Since the start of the new building operations in 1924, estimated to end in 1937, the bank has added to its resources the most impregnable underground fortress in the world, proof against gunfire, bombs, floods, and conflagrations, while the most expert gang of modern cracksmen could hardly force an entry, if loft to work unmolested, in less than a month. These mighty strongrooms, situated 60ft below street level, have been built to hold £150,000,000 in gold, or 1000 tons. Once the safety of the Bank of England hung on a single hair of human integrity. The governors received an anonymous note to the effect that the writer could gain access to the bullion room at any time. At first they took no notice. But as the notes persisted they were persuaded to arrange an appointment in the vaults with the mystery man. ■To the amazement of the company there was a creaking of boards, and through a hole in the floor loomed the hend and shoulders of a workman. In demolishing an adjacent building he had discovered a drain loading to a position directly underneath the vaults, the displacement of a few flagstones and he wns free to walk in and help himself. Yet not. one gold piece was missing. As a rpwnrrl for his honesty the governors voted the workman a* gratuity of £1000.