The Bank of St Neots

A regency banknote issued by the short-lived bank of St Neots in 1824. Donated by a family who owned a pawn shop in Enfield, London, where it is believed the note was given in payment for a property.

Provincial banks sprang up across Britain in the Georgian period to meet the demand for more cash and investment in businesses. The St Neots bank was established in 1807 by three local businessmen; George James Gorham, Francis Rix and John Inkersole, and they probably had their bank premises at 16 Market Square.

The bank note is signed at the bottom right by Francis Rix. Sadly the bank went bankrupt in about 1824 when it was said that poor investment of the banks funds led to its collapse.