Guns, gold and jewellery were also found during the excavation of the former branch of Midland bank, known locally as the King of King Street.
Celebrity chef, Oliver, found the hidden treasures – worth £1.1 million in total – in hundreds of safe deposit boxes – some of them dating back to 1935 – in the vault of the old bank site, which is a Grade II listed building.
An excerpt from Oliver’s website reads: “The basement vault room has wall to wall original safety deposit boxes where the people of Manchester stored their heirlooms, mementos and collectables since the building’s completion in 1935.
“Our designers and architects have been visiting the vault room since March 2011, and regardless of who they’re with they can’t resist ‘checking’ at least one safety deposit box for any unclaimed goods.”
Oliver has handed the haul to the treasury.
The Jamie’s Italian restaurant will be spread over three levels, with the bank’s old ground floor banking hall, mezzanines antechambers in the old clerks’ offices and the basement vault room all being transformed.
Members of the band haven’t yet commented on what might be stored on the session tapes.
Coincidentally, Manchester band, New Order have just been announced as a headliner at Bestival, to be held on the Isle of White in September.
New Order will play on the Saturday night of the three-day festival, fresh after a UK tour – their first in five years.
The band’s tour dates are as follows:
O2 Apollo Manchester – April 26, 27
Birmingham Ballroom – 29
O2 Academy Brixton – May 2, 3
O2 Academy Glasgow – 5
