At the end of the nineteenth century … ‘central bank’ meant scarcely more than a single bank distinguished from others by unique public responsibilities eclipsing its commercial interests.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of ‘The Wind in the Willows’ on 8 October 1908, the Bank [of England]'s Museum has opened a new, permanent display celebrating the career of its author, Kenneth Grahame, who worked at the Bank for thirty years … John Keyworth, Curator of the Museum, said ‘Grahame's Bank career is little-known, but it is very likely that his thirty-year career had some influence on his writing; either the direct influence of colleagues on the famous characters he created or the atmosphere of life at the grand old institution imbuing his work.’