Safe Deposit - Dimensions and Rental Charges
Rental rates were also increased in 1968, probably to the
amounts shown in this advertisement after Decimalisation of the
currency in 1971.
A: 75 pence (15/-)
B: £1.25 (£1. 5s. 0d.)
C: £1.75 (£1. 15s. 0d.)
D: £2.50 (£2. 10s. 0d.)
Later, with over 10,000 safes let (out of
a total of 10,528),
annual rents were increased significantly.
The depth of all four sizes of safe was 19 inches,
the variance in safe size being provided by differing heights and widths as detailed
in the accompanying tables.
These tables were published regularly in the Bank's Annual Reports, the examples shown here reflecting
the years in which revised rentals were instituted.
The date of the first table is 1934:
A (3,840 safes): 5/- = 25 pence
B (320 safes): 10/- = 50 pence
C (320
safes): 15/- = 75 pence
D (160 safes): 20/- = £1
The date of the second table is 1947, when the
original 4,640 safes had been increased by the addition of 5,888 to provide a
total of 10,528.
At this date, all 320 Class C safes were rented, so
they are not listed.
The third table is dated 1953. The rentals have not been increased, but there are Class C safes available.
A
(8,960 safes): 7/6 = 37½ pence
B (832 safes): 15/- = 75 pence
C (320
safes): 22/6 = £1.12½
D (416 safes): 30/- = £1.50
The fourth table is dated 1958
A (8,960 safes): 10/- = 50 pence
B (832
safes): 20/- = £1.00
C (320 safes): 30/- = £1.50
D (416 safes): 40/- =
£2.00
These increased rentals applied from
January 1st 1958. The imposition of a £2 charge for the Class D safes meant that any
receipts issued for the payment of the rent required a 2d stamp to be affixed thereon. All receipts for sums of £2 and over required
the payment of this 'stamp duty' - this form of tax was abolished as part of the decimalisation of the currency in 1971.
A leaflet featuring the Safe Deposit facility reflected the new charges applying from January 1st 1958
(right) front and
rear of leaflet
(below) inside of leaflet