Bank of England
	The Bank of England The Bank was founded under Royal Charter in 1694 and it has remained on this site to this very day where it stands firm in its role as the nation's central bank, functioning at the heart of one of the world's largest and most sophisticated financial centres. Before the Bank of England, the business of banking was largely in the hands of the goldsmiths who made extensive loans to merchants and to the Crown. By the end of the 17th century the need for a more broadly based national bank, similar to those that already existed on the Continent, had become increasingly apparent. This was made the more apparent by a costly war with France in 1688.	In many ways it was the founding of this Bank that gave 'the square mile' the sense of identity that we so readily recognise today. Situated at the very heart of the capital's major financial institutions, the 'City' as it is known today can be traced back to the founding of this building. In many ways the Bank of England gave this area its very unique identity by way of function.
The Royal Exchange The Royal Exchange at Threadneedle Street was originally set up by Sir Thomas Gresham in 1566 in an attempt to supplant the Bourse at Antwerp as the chief European market-place. London merchants met here daily and soon became the centre of the country's industry. Elizabeth I named it the Royal Exchange in 1571.  The building has twice been destroyed by fire but on both occasions it was rebuilt on the same site. Sir William Tite was commissioned to design and build a new Royal Exchange in 1842. It has for a long time been the headquarters of the Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance Group. This building invariably contributes to the unique form of socio-economic identity that can be found in this area today.
Links: Bank of England A photo taken from the same spot in 1844
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