Six Fun Facts About Vaults

Unveiling the Fun

Venture with us into the fascinating realm of safe deposit boxes and vaults, where security meets surprises and seriousness meets silliness.
Get ready to be entertained and enlightened as we uncover some of the most amusing and intriguing facts about these fortified storage solutions. Let’s go through six fun facts about safe deposit vaults.

Fact 1: The Great Escape Artist

Houdini, the legendary escape artist, once boasted that he could escape from any safe or vault in the world. In 1915, he even accepted a challenge from the British company Cox & Co. to break into their vault. Despite his best efforts, Houdini was unable to crack the safe, admitting defeat and earning respect from the company.

Fact 2: A Presidential Collection

When President John F. Kennedy visited the White House vault in 1961, he found a collection of historical documents and memorabilia stored in safe deposit boxes, including a lock of Abraham Lincoln’s hair, much to his surprise!

Fact 3: The World’s Deepest Vault

The Global Seed Vault, situated in a former limestone mine in Norway, earns the moniker “Doomsday Vault.” Buried deep within a mountain on the remote island of Svalbard, this secure facility houses over 1 million seed samples from around the world, safeguarding global biodiversity in the event of a catastrophe.

Fact 4: £2bn worth of gold bar

The Bank of England Vault places more than 400,000 gold bars in it, enough to cover the entire UK in gold leaf…six times! The gold in this vault comes from countries all over the world. The gold bars stored in this vault are that much larger than if you stocked them all on top of each other; they would be the same height as 46 Eiffel Towers. Check out this one-and-only video report from this location here.

Fact 5: A Fishy Heist

In 2016, thieves in London attempted to break into a safe deposit box facility by drilling through the wall from a neighbouring property. They accidentally drilled into a water pipe instead, flooding the vault and forcing them to flee empty-handed, thwarting their plans!

Fact 6: The Guinness World Record Holder

The largest bank vault in the world belongs to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Located 80 feet below street level, this colossal vault spans an impressive 90 feet in length and 80 feet in width. It is securing billions of dollars’ worth of gold bars and other treasures.

From Houdini’s daring escapades to the world’s deepest vault, the world of safe deposit boxes and vaults brims with surprises, quirks, and unexpected tales. These fun facts remind us that even the most secure spaces have their share of amusement and intrigue.

So, whether you’re fascinated by history, marvel at engineering feats, or simply enjoy a good laugh, the world of safe deposit boxes and vaults has something for everyone. It’s a place where security and silliness converge, offering a delightful glimpse into the unexpected side of secure storage solutions.

Get in touch


Explore the security and convenience of safe deposit boxes at The Safe Deposit Centre Manchester. Safeguard your valuables for generations to come!

For any inquiries call us at 0161 273 7487or fill in our contact form.

Enquire about a box.