REAL Exclusive Magazine

Bowler Hats, Briefcases and The Bank of England

British Icons in the City of London

By Patricia Tan

During my recent trip to England, I had several meetings in the City of London, Britain’s financial district, where I worked during the 1980s and 90s. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be in “The City” doing business again – completely different from simply being a tourist and visiting the many historic sites there.

So much of being British stems from our ancient heritage and traditions, and nowhere are these more evident than in the City. The “square mile” as it is also known is the oldest part of London and yet still functions as the heart of Britain’s business and financial activities. Hard to believe that old customs, not to mention old buildings, can adapt to deal with the hi-tech age we live in today. I thought it might be fun to look at some of the things, big and small, that have become representative of the City and its financial lifeblood.

St Johns Wharf

Invented in 1849, the bowler hat is often thought of as being synonymous with the City. Despite the best efforts of Winston Churchill and Charlie Chaplin, most people think of the bowler hat as part of the City gent’s uniform, worn by city workers during the 1950s and 60s. I did see a few of these hats during my visit, and I’m told that around 5,000 bowler hats are sold annually.

St Johns Wharf

The briefcase began its life in the 1800s and is so called because it was used by barristers and lawyers to carry legal documents (briefs) to court. The City also houses the Inns of Court – the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales, Some of the Inns are housed in buildings that date back to the 16th century. The most famous briefcase in Britain has to be the one used by the Chancellor the Exchequer to carry his annual budget speech to the Houses of Parliament. This red, rather battered briefcase was originally used in 1860, retired in 1965 but made a brief appearance again in 2000s before being placed in The National Archives.

The Water Tower

The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street, as the Bank of England is affectionately known, sits majestically at the intersection of nine roads, making it a truly central feature of the City. Established in 1694, the Bank of England is the second oldest bank in the world. Its current building dates back to 1734 and was the first purpose built bank. The building itself is very impressive, and even more so when you understand how vast its underground vaults are. This is where the U.K.’s gold reserves are stored, and building a secure facility in 1734 must have had its challenges.

Land in the square mile and surrounding areas is coveted for the development of office and commercial buildings, but resourceful developers have come up with some very inventive ways of introducing residential accommodation into the landscape. I approached one of our U.K. partners and asked them to send me some illustrations of this. I hope you will agree that both of the homes pictured here combine modern living with a respect for Britain’s traditions and historic buildings. I’m sure the architects of the original buildings could not have conceived how their creations might be re-purposed, nor could they have imagined the price tag they might carry in a future world.

ST JOHNS WHARF
Victorian warehouse conversion, directly on the River Thames. 2,723 sq ft penthouse, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms. $4,531,500
THE WATER TOWER
150 years old water tower conversion. Only one of its kind in Central London. 360⁰ city views from the top floor. $10,270,000

Patricia Tan was born in England, and her career in international sales and marketing led her to live and work in many countries around the world before moving to Sarasota in 1997. Patricia is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Transnational Referral Certified (TRC). She is involved in global activities of the Sarasota, Florida and National Association of Realtors, and currently serves as NAR President’s Liaison to U.K. Her real estate business operates from Coldwell Banker on St Armands Key, where her focus is to bring international buyers to the local market. She regularly makes marketing trips to Canada, Asia and Europe, to promote Florida’s Gulf Coast and the Sarasota area in particular. Patricia may be reached at 941-504-9232 or Pat@PatriciaTan.com.

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