This page is for all my British visitors, who being of age may remember some not so distant Bank of England One Pound notes that were in circulation during the 1950's through to the late 1980's.  

This is when money had real value and not like it is today, when a couple of Pounds or indeed Dollars is relatively worthless.

Below is a Bank of England series A £1 note that was first issued on the 17th June 1948 and ceased to be legal tender on 28th May 1962.  It was 151mm long by 85mm wide and was basically designed by W. M. Keesey.

Below is a Jo Page Britannia series C £1 note from around 1970. At the time this £1 note was in circulation it had real spending power.  When decimalization came in during 1971, these Britannia Pounds remained in circulation but there value was at the new decimal value of 100 pence to the Pound. 

Date first issued 17th March 1960. Last issued 1978 and ceased to be legal tender 31st May 1979

The size of this note was 151mm long by 72mm wide and was designed by Robert Austin, it was also the first Bank of England £1 note to have upon it a portrait of Queen Elizabeth 2nd.

There were 240 pence to one of these old Pound notes before decimalization, whereas after decimalization there was only 100 pence to the £1, losing 140 pence from every British mans pocket on 15th February 1971.

Below is the reverse side of the note showing a picture of Britannia.

In 1975 a gallon of petrol in Britain was about 40 pence, today is £4.50 pence or about ten times more, but per cé the pound isn't worth ten times more.

The last British £1 note design to be in circulation was called the 'Newton' Pound, it made its first appearance around 1978.  With the introduction of the £1 coin in 1983, the £1 notes days were numbered.

 As the £1's value became less and less, the Bank of England finally withdrew the £1 note in 1988. Below is the last design of £1 note, the series 'D' 'Newton' Pound, with a picture of Sir Isaac Newton on the reverse side.

Date first issued 9th February 1978, Date ceased to be legal tender 11th March 1988

Size 135mm long by 67mm wide, designed by Harry Eccleston.

The £1 coin saw the demise of the Pound note, and the 'folding stuff' in the wallet became fewer and it also meant that the pound was now destined to wear the pocket lining out instead.

In 1982 beer in a British pub was on average sold at 62p a pint, leaving 38 pence change from One Pound.  Whereas today in 2009 you will need £2 and 38 pence for just ONE pint.