A urinal in their Treasury bathroom, whiskey at the despatch box and a five-hour Commons speech: How Chancellor Rachel Reeves all-male predecessors shaped centuries-old role

Rachel Reeves vowed in the summer that, as Britains first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, she would smash glass ceilings and urinals.

She was of course referring to the fixture in her private bathroom at the Treasury that has been in place since at least 1922 and was once used by Winston Churchill.

Yet, it then emerged that her attempts to have the urinal removed after taking office had been scuppered due to the reported £8,000 cost.

But, in becoming the first woman in history to deliver the Budget today, Ms Reeves is bucking the trend of more than 800 years of history.

Until she walked into Number 11 Downing Street after Labours election victory in July, only men had served as chancellor.

Ms Reeves herself has said that the first chancellor was Henry the Treasurer, who the Domesday Book lists as having served under William the Conqueror in the 11th century.

In becoming the first woman in history to deliver the Budget today, Ms Reeves is bucking the trend of more than 800 years of history. Above: Leaving Number 11 Downing Street this morning 

In 1995, chancellor Kenneth Clarke opted to drink whiskey while delivering his Budget speech in the House of Commons. Convention states that the chancellor is free to drink alcohol while delivering the Budget

The Exchequers name stems from the chequered cloth that was used to visually record the sums of money that were demanded and received by powerful barons.

The office started life as a means by which the monarch could manage their financial affairs through officials working on their behalf. 

By the 17th century, the remaining work of the Exchequer - which had already been made less important by the establishment of the Audit Office - had been eclipsed by the Treasury.

How Britains first female bank manager was appointed in 1958  

In 1958, Britain was more than 65 years away from having its first female chancellor.

But, at Barclays Hanover Street branch in Londons West End, Hilda Harding was starting her role as the UKs first female bank manager.  

She had joined Barclays in 1934 and rose through the ranks in the firm. 

Hilda Harding, Britains first female bank manager, was appointed in 1958

She said in 1961: Business is fine. Being a woman bank manager doesnt seem to make any difference. 

We have just as many men as women clients. At first some men coming in here did seem faintly surprised, but soon got used to it. Now I am accepted. 

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Asked why no woman held the post of chancellor before Ms Reeves, historian Sir Anthony Seldon told MailOnline: There havent been that women who have come into politics who have had that particular background and expertise. 

Or where they have had it, they havent reached the top of politics.

There are people like Sarah Hogg who was chief policy advisor to Major who would have been ideal but she wasnt in party politics.

Under Tony Blair, there were senior women like Tessa Jowell, Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett, but their expertise was not financial.

He added: [Conservative] Laura Trott rose to Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Theresa May would have probably been a very good chancellor with her experience of working at the Bank of England. 

Before the 20th century, the most consequential chancellor was William Gladstone.

He served in the role four times between 1852 and 1882 and even combined the job with his role of prime minister between 1873 and 1874 and then again from 1880 until 1882.

With 12 under his belt, Gladstone still holds the record for delivering more Budget speeches than any other chancellor.

Like Gladstone, holders of the role have often gone on to serve as prime minister.

His great rival Benjamin Disraeli was chancellor three times between 1852 and 1868, before serving twice as PM. 

William Pitt the Younger was chancellor three times between 1782 and 1806. His final stint at the Treasury from 1804 was combined with his last term as PM. 

Spencer Perceval also combined the role of chancellor with that of PM from 1807 until 1812, until he was assassinated in the lobby of the House of Commons. 

While the delivery of the Budget was made famous by Gladstone, the word itself comes from the old French word bougette, meaning little bag.

It was once customary to bring the financial statement to the House of Commons in a leather bag. The modern equivalent is the Chancellors Budget Box. 

The original wooden box was hand-crafted for Gladstone in around 1860. It was lined with black satin and covered with scarlet leather.

However, James Callaghan broke with tradition in 1965 when he used a new box as Chancellor. 

Gordon Brown then used another new box for his first Budget in 1997. 

George Osborne reverted to the Gladstone Box for his first Budget in 2010 but then used a new box in 2011. 

Winston Churchill was chancellor from 1924 until 1929. Above: Churchill outside Number 11 Downing Street as he prepares to present his Budget, 1927

Before the 20th century, the most consequential chancellor was William Gladstone

George Osborne reverted to the Gladstone Box for his first Budget in 2010

According to tradition, the Chancellor can drink alcohol during the Budget speech if they want to. 

Gladstone chose sherry and a beaten egg, Benjamin Disraeli opted for brandy and water and Kenneth Clarke went for whisky.

But, more recently, the holder of the post has chosen water.

Gladstone certainly needed a boost when he gave what was the longest continuous Budget speech in history in April 1853. 

His performance lasted for 4 hours and 45 minutes. 

Although Reeves is Britains first female chancellor, she is by no means the first women in the world to have taken on the equivalent role.

Ruth Richardson served as New Zealands minister of finance from 1990 to 1993.

Rachel Reeves shows journalist Emily Maitlis her private bathroom at the Treasury

Indira Gandhi, who would go on to be assassinated in her second stint as prime minister of India, served as finance chief from 1969 until 1970.

And Janet Yellen, the US treasury secretary, has had a decades-long career in finance roles. 

Before she was appointed to her current role, she was chair of the Federal Reserve. 

Anneliese Dodds made history in 2020 when Sir Keir Starmer appointed her as the first female shadow chancellor. 

However, she only lasted just over a year before being replaced by Ms Reeves. 

When she was appointed, she said: The first chancellor was called Henry the Treasurer and its been quite a long time to wait to get a woman in the role. 

That is a huge honour for me personally and I see it as a big responsibility to ensure the economy works better for women. 

I want to play my part… and send a signal to young women and girls that there is nothing they cant achieve if they put their mind to it.