The 4,000 safe deposit boxes that once held gold and other valuables beneath Birmingham's Broad Street are now accessible to the public. The vaults, part of the former Birmingham Municipal Bank building now known as The Exchange, have been opened as part of a free exhibition supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Grade II-listed building, which opened in 1919, sat empty for nearly two decades before the University of Birmingham purchased it in 2018. It reopened in 2021 as the university's civic city centre hub, offering public engagement with academic research, a cafe and communal spaces.
Exhibition details and opening times
The Unlocking The Vaults exhibition runs from now until November 7, 2026. It coincides with Birmingham Heritage Week, which takes place from September 11 to September 20. The Exchange is open Monday to Saturday from 8am until 5pm, with the cafe closing at 4pm.
Visitors can see the safe deposit facility and its thousands of boxes, where Birmingham residents once stored jewellery and other valuables. The exhibition also shares untold stories and hidden histories relating to the Birmingham Municipal Bank and the wider city.
Personal stories and community research
Objects, photographs and materials gathered during two years of research illustrate how the bank became part of everyday life for people from all walks of life in Birmingham. Personal memories from former employees and customers feature prominently.
Stories include the time the entire building was cleared out so actress Joan Collins could cash a cheque, and the occasion when Resham Sahota, a significant contributor to the project, visited the bank in wedding clothes to collect jewellery for her sister's wedding.
Jane McArdle, who led the project, said: "Unlocking the Vaults has been a truly special journey working with community members to uncover and share the personal histories surrounding the Birmingham Municipal Bank. By unearthing the stories of this unique institution, we've been able to shine a brand-new light on Birmingham's history, and we're delighted to share this with our visitors to The Exchange."
Additional Heritage Week events
Beyond Unlocking the Vaults, the University of Birmingham is hosting a guided walk of Metchley Roman Fort on its campus during Birmingham Heritage Week. The Barber Institute of Fine Arts will run interactive family workshops at The Exchange.
There will also be walking tours of the campus, heritage University of Birmingham buildings, and the city centre, all led by University of Birmingham experts. The exhibition and associated events provide a rare opportunity to explore a significant piece of Birmingham's financial and social history.
