Banking disasters are not just the product of the modern era. The City of London's huge and hierarchical banks seemed impenetrable until 1866 when bill broker and discount banker Overend, Gurney & Co collapsed with £11m in debts - a huge sum back then.

The company's directors were tried for fraud but the ensuing carnage caused over 200 businesses to shut down. It was the last run on British bank until Northern Rock. Also in 1878 the City of Glasgow Bank also went under.