MONEY may talk but museum lovers talk back. Lloyds Bank discovered this when it decided last month to close its Museum on the Mound, located in the Bank of Scotland’s head office in Edinburgh, at the end of the year. The Herald’s revelation caused an outcry.
A motion deploring the decision was lodged at the Scottish Parliament. A petition received nearly 1,500 signatures. Teachers and cultural figures, not least the museum’s founder, spoke out.
At the time, Lloyds said the decision had been difficult. It seems more apt to describe it as unnecessary, though no cogent reason for it was ever provided, and the only reasonable surmise has been a relatively small cost saving. At any rate, a reasonable definition of a difficult decision might be one that could easily go wrong – as this one did.
A feeling developed that a fool and his money museum are soon parted, and, the ire of objectors seemed particularly justified given the Bank of Scotland’s role in the financial history of the country and its capital, not to mention the museum’s much valued educational function.
Lloyds found closing a popular cultural resource was quite an educational experience in itself. It has at least learned from it. As well as talking, banks often aver that they listen. On this occasion, Lloyds has done just that, and is to be congratulated for having had the good grace to change its mind.
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