Savings Banks Museum

The world’s first savings bank was opened in 1810 by Dr. Henry Duncan. It was based on business principles, paying interest on its investors savings.

The Rev Henry Duncan was the minister of the parish church in Ruthwell for almost fifty years. He restored the medieval eighth century Ruthwell Cross, which is one of the finest Anglo-Saxon crosses in the UK and has now been returned to its rightful place in Ruthwell Church.

The museum has a collection of early home safes, coins and bank notes from many places around the world and also includes the first three lock box used in the Ruthwell Parish Bank.

All the items in the museum have been donated by visitors or by members of the Duncan family.