[BITList] £156BILLION in gold bars , London

[John Feltham]

We've still got a few quid then! Bank of England's glittering stash of £156BILLION in gold bars stored in former canteen under London

By Emma Reynolds

Last updated at 6:27 PM on 2nd February 2012

Cash-strapped British people will breathe a sigh of relief when they see these impressive treasure troves. Despite the financial crisis, it seems the country still has some money left in the Bank of England's vault beneath London. In fact, there are stacks of gold bars worth a whopping £156billion stored in an old canteen deep below the streets of the capital.


Treasure trove: The Bank of England's vault under central London contains 4,600 tons of the precious metal, worth an incredible £156billion


Rich pickings: The rows of simple shelves are stacked high with 28lb 24-carat gold bars

It seems Gordon Brown did not manage to completely strip the country of its assets when he sold off 400 tons of gold at rock-bottom price during his time as Chancellor. The gold he got rid of when prices were at a 20-year low cost the country up to £11bn, it was estimated last April.

He made just £2.3billion on the precious metal he sold between 1999 and 2002.

So the 4,600 tons of the precious metal still stored in these concrete-lined vaults in the heart of London will be a welcome sight for those worried we have little left to fall back on.

The piles of 28lb 24-carat gold bars are stacked on simple blue shelves beneath strip lighting. One image alone shows around 15,000 bars or 210 tonnes of pure gold, with a value of approximately £3billion.


Worth a fortune: In this image alone there are around 15,000 bars and 210 tonnes of pure gold, with a value of about £3billion On the walls of one of the vaults, posters from the 1940s are still visible, from when the vast room was used as a canteen.

The walls must be literally bombproof as they were used by bank staff as air raid shelters during World War II.

The old-fashioned posters that hang around the room depict sunny climes, luxury cruises and happier times - which may be as welcome a sight as the valuables for many.

Three-foot long keys are needed to unlock to the doors that guard the rooms holding the gold - but sadly not all of it belongs to us.

Some is deposited by foreign governments as well as our own. Different shapes and marks distinguish the varying sources of the wealth.

 

 


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