Bank Chambers, Office building on Portland Street in Manchester, England
Bank Chambers is an office building on Portland Street in Manchester that features thick concrete walls and structural elements running throughout its design. The robust construction reflects its original purpose as a secure banking facility with underground storage spaces.
The Bank of England operated this building starting in 1971 as a secure facility with underground vaults for storing gold bullion. The structure was designed to protect valuable assets with reinforced concrete walls and deep subterranean storage areas.
The building represents the transition of Manchester's financial infrastructure, evolving from a traditional banking vault to a modern data center complex.
The building is accessible during business hours as it remains an active office location in the city center. The underground spaces are not open to visitors, but the external architecture and ground level provide a sense of the structure's robust design.
The structure included a hidden passage system within its concrete walls where security dogs once patrolled between outer and inner barriers. This architectural design was an unusual security measure for protecting the valuable assets stored below.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
