Built in 1927 to 1929 The former Barclays Bank Regional Headquarters was built over huge gold bullion vaults. They extend to approximately 10000 sq feet or 1/4 acre - a similar size to the main banking hall. Within the vaults is 4 kilometres of moveable steel shelving.

Two stories under Castle Meadow the vaults are perhaps the most central and secure storage available in East Anglia. Access to the vaults over the last 7 decades has been strictly controlled and many of the thousands who worked and banked at 'Barclays Bank Plain' over the years never entered the vaults.

Not withstanding the attention of many over the years, in the history of the bank the vaults never breached. Irrespective, with walls several feet thick it is unlikely the vaults area could be breached. Inside the walls, each vault is secured by individual steel doors up to 15" thick. As dry today as they were 75 years ago, the vaults are as fire proof as any store could possibly be. This being the case a sprinkler system is considered unnecessary.

During the 1930's and 1940's huge amounts of Gold bullion were transferred from London. The gold arrived through a side entrance on Castle Meadow which was fitted 25 years ago with a huge vehicle turntable to turn around the heavy security vans that were reversed into secure units before the Gold was unloaded in small quantities at a time. The Gold was passed from the secure units into an even more secure area and then by heavy duty lift direct into the vaults.

Looking to generate revenue income for the Norwich Youth Venue project planning permission has been sought and received to convert the vaults into a depository - a secure controlled store for documents, deeds, files or any other items that need to be safely stored and accessed from time to time.

Access to the depository will be from Castle Meadow - through a new controlled reception area currently under construction. A new state of the art passenger lift is being installed along with the latest security and electronic monitoring equipment. New locks have been installed along and each vault is being systematically refurbished.

During the summer of 2004, Bidwells will commence a marketing campaign of the completed facility. An open day will reveal the true extent of the vaults. It is anticipated the space will appeal to Lawyers wishing to store irreplaceable deeds, documents, wills and other client documentation. The vaults could also be of interest to large insurance companies and banks needing to store insurance policies and similarly important papers. Police Authorities, Courts and Statutory authorities and agencies often need to secure papers for many years and the hope is that in due course all the available vault accommodation is again being purposefully reused - for whatever purpose.

Every penny of the income generated will be immediately recycled to the benefit of The Norwich Youth Venue. In this way everyone who takes up the space in the vaults will benefit from also knowing that the rent paid each quarter month, each quarter or each year is being used on behalf of the next generation.

If you would like more information on the vaults, please complete the form below: