Walking. Gossip. Travel.

Tag: The Museum on the Mound

  • Edinburgh – The Museum on the Mound (British Linen Bank)

    A sign from the former British Linen Bank, a long-standing bank which was in operation from when it received its Royal Charter in 1746. It actually started life as the British Linen Company and was primarily established to promote the linen industry, although by the 1760s it was predominantly operating as a bank.

    The bank continued to grow during the nineteenth century and was renamed as the British Linen Bank in 1906. In 1919 the bank was taken over by Barclays Bank and it was later bought out by the Bank of Scotland in 1969 and they used the brand for their merchant bank business from 1977 until 1999. Sadly that was the end of the business, although their bank notes and cheques seem to be doing quite a trade on eBay.

  • Edinburgh – The Museum on the Mound (Night Watchman’s Chair)

    Back when the Museum on the Mound was the Head Office of the Bank of Scotland, this was the chair they provided the night watchman with to ensure no little burglaries happened overnight. In the style of an Orkney chair it was apparently used for many years and these were often designed so that they sloped forwards, making it harder for the night watchman to fall asleep. The Bank of Scotland appear to have been kinder as the seat looks relatively comfortable.

  • Edinburgh – The Museum on the Mound (£1 Million in £20 notes)

    It’s like being back in Las Vegas with their display of $1 million where visitors can get a free photo taken. The Museum on the Mound doesn’t have quite such a tourist set-up, but it does have £1 million in used £20 notes. They’ve all been stamped as cancelled, just to avoid any little burglary incidents no doubt.

  • Edinburgh – The Museum on the Mound (Banking Family Tree)

    The Museum on the Mound is located within the Scottish HQ of Lloyds Bank in a building which was once the Head Office of the Bank of Scotland. The constant takeover of banks makes the situation confusing, but there is a helpful banking family tree available for visitors. At least the Bank of Scotland name remains in use.