Changing Landscapes: The Industrial
Revolution and the British Banknote
The face of Britain changed beyond recognition in the nineteenth
century following intense industrialization and urbanization,
advances in agriculture and developments in international trade and
finance. New private banks employed celebrated engravers to create
intricate and beautiful banknote illustrations, portraying aspects
of the changing Britain and illustrating a sense of national pride
and civic identity.
This extraordinary exhibition of banknotes, tokens, medals,
paintings, prints, silverware, pottery and models of locomotives
and ships reflects those monumental changes and provides an
invaluable insight into the economy and society of the time.
This exhibition is part of an ongoing collaboration between the
British Museum and the Barber Institute. The exhibition also
features items on loan from the Science Museum, Birmingham
Museums and Art Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the Cadbury
Collections of nineteenth century Britain.
Barber Institute,
Birmingham
7 March 2008 – 6 March 2009
Image: An unissued five pound banknote
engraved by W.H. Lizars