“Old Lady” is a colloquial term for the Bank of England, the central bank of the United Kingdom.
The nickname is derived from a satirical cartoon by James Gillray that was published in 1797.
The cartoon, titled “Political Ravishment, or The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street in Danger!“, depicts the Bank of England as an old lady being attacked by a politician.
The Bank of England is located on Threadneedle Street in London, which is how the “Old Lady of Threadneedle Street” nickname originated.
Over time, the term has become a widely recognized and affectionate nickname for the Bank of England.