It must have been a hard life working at the UK's old Midland Bank. Those wondering what the great and good of the former UK clearer used to get up to in the sumptuous halls of 27-32 Poultry in the City of London needed to look no further than last week's sale in Knightsbridge, where Bonhams was auctioning the furniture from the former headquarters.

Amid the mahogany, walnut and marquetry, and several generously proportioned partners' desks, there were no fewer than 16 card tables.