Free Writing Prospectus (To the Prospectus dated August 31, 2007 and the Prospectus Supplement dated September 4, 2007) Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 Registration No. 333-145845 April 10, 2008

$ 100% Principal Protected Notes due March 20, 2013 Linked to the Performance of a Basket of Commodities Medium-Term Notes, Series A, No. C-51

Terms used in this free writing prospectus, but not defined herein, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the prospectus supplement.

Issuer:	Barclays Bank PLC‡
Basket Initial Valuation Date:	April 15, 2008
Issue Date:	April 18, 2008
Basket Final Valuation Date:	March 15, 2013*
Maturity Date:	March 20, 2013* (resulting in a term to maturity of approximately 59 months)
Denominations:	Minimum denominations of $1,000, and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Interest:	We will not pay you interest during the term of the Notes.
Reference Asset:	A basket comprised of the following commodities (each a “basket component”, and together, the “basket components”) in equally weighted allocations:

Commodities	Weight	C(i) Initial (as defined below)
Gas oil, as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Settlement Price” in the prospectus supplement.	1/5
Gasoline RBOB, as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Settlement Price” in the prospectus supplement.	1/5
Natural gas, as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Settlement Price” in the prospectus supplement.	1/5
Heating Oil, as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Settlement Price” in the prospectus supplement.	1/5
WTI Crude, as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Settlement Price” in the prospectus supplement.	1/5

Participation Rate:	100%
Payment at Maturity:	If you hold your Notes to maturity, you will receive a cash payment determined as follows: •        if the basket performance is equal to or greater than 0%, you will receive (a) the principal amount of your Notes plus (b) the principal amount multiplied by the product of (i) the basket performance and (ii) the participation rate: $1,000 + [$1,000 x (basket performance x participation rate)] •        if the basket performance is less than 0%, you will receive the principal amount of your Notes. Your principal is only protected if you hold the Notes to maturity.
Basket Performance	The basket performance equals the weighted average of the percentage change (which may be positive or negative) in the value of each of the basket components from and including the basket initial valuation date to and including the basket final valuation date. The basket performance will be calculated as follows: C (i) Initial = The settlement price of each basket component on the basket initial valuation date; C(i) Final = The settlement price of each basket component on the basket final valuation date; and W(i) = Weighting of each basket component as indicated above.
Calculation Agent:	Barclays Bank PLC
Business Day:	New York
CUSIP/ISIN:	06738RVW3 and US06738RVW32

‡ The Notes are expected to carry the same rating as the Medium-Term Notes Program, Series A, which is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc, and will be rated Aa1 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. The rating is subject to downward revision, suspension or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. The rating (1) does not take into account market risk or the performance-related risks of the investment (including, without limitation, the risks associated with the potential negative performance of any reference asset to which the Notes are linked), and (2) is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.

* Subject to postponement in the event of a market disruption event and as described under “Reference Assets—Commodities—Market Disruption Events Relating to Notes with a Commodity as the Reference Asset” in the prospectus supplement.

Investing in the Notes involves a number of risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3 of the prospectus supplement and “ Selected Risk Considerations” beginning on page FWP-5 of this free writing prospectus.

The Notes will not be listed on any U.S. securities exchange or quotation system. Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this free writing prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The Notes constitute our direct, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and are not deposit liabilities of Barclays Bank PLC and are not insured by the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency of the United States, the United Kingdom or any other jurisdiction.

	Price to Public	Agent’s Commission	Proceeds to Barclays Bank PLC
Per Note	100%	%	%
Total	$	$	$

Barclays Bank PLC has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this free writing prospectus relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus dated August 31, 2007, the prospectus supplement dated September 4, 2007 and other documents Barclays Bank PLC has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Barclays Bank PLC and this offering. Buyers should rely upon the prospectus, prospectus supplement and any relevant free writing prospectus or pricing supplement for complete details. You may get these documents and other documents Barclays Bank PLC has filed for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Barclays Bank PLC or any agent or dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the prospectus, prospectus supplement, preliminary pricing supplement, if any, and final pricing supplement (when completed) and this free writing prospectus if you request it by calling your Barclays Bank PLC sales representative, such dealer or 1-888-227-2275 (Extension 1101). A copy of the prospectus may be obtained from Barclays Capital, 200 Cedar Knolls Road, Building E, 4th Floor—Attn: US Syndicate Operations, Whippany, NJ 07981.

You may revoke your offer to purchase the Notes at any time prior to the time at which we accept such offer by notifying the applicable agent. We reserve the right to change the terms of, or reject any offer to purchase the Notes prior to their issuance. In the event of any changes to the terms of the Notes, we will notify you and you will be asked to accept such changes in connection with your purchase. You may also choose to reject such changes in which case we may reject your offer to purchase.

ADDITIONAL TERMS SPECIFIC TO THE NOTES

You should read this free writing prospectus together with the prospectus dated August 31, 2007, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated September 4, 2007 relating to our Medium-Term Notes, Series A, of which these Notes are a part. This free writing prospectus, together with the documents listed below, contains the terms of the Notes and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous oral statements as well as any other written materials including preliminary or indicative pricing terms, correspondence, trade ideas, structures for implementation, sample structures, brochures or other educational materials of ours. You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters set forth in “Risk Factors” in the prospectus supplement, as the Notes involve risks not associated with conventional debt securities. We urge you to consult your investment, legal, tax, accounting and other advisors before you invest in the Notes.

You may access these documents on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing our filings for the relevant date on the SEC website):

• Prospectus supplement dated September 4, 2007 and prospectus dated August 31, 2007:

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/312070/000119312507194615/d424b3.htm

Our SEC file number is 1-10257. As used in this free writing prospectus, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to Barclays Bank PLC.

Program Credit Rating

The Notes are issued under the Medium-Term Notes Program, Series A (the “Program”). The Notes are expected to carry the rating of the Program, which is rated AA by Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc (“S&P”), and will be rated Aa1 by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”). An AA rating from S&P generally indicates that the issuer’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligations arising from the Program is very strong. An Aa1 rating by Moody’s indicates that the Program is currently judged by Moody’s to be an obligation of high quality and is subject to very low credit risk. The credit rating is a statement of opinion and not a statement of fact and is subject to downward revisions, suspension or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency. The rating (1) does not take into account market risk or the performance-related risks of the investment (including, without limitation, the risks associated with the potential negative performance of any reference asset to which the Notes are linked), and (2) is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities.

What is the Total Return on the Notes at Maturity Assuming a Range of Performance for the Basket?

The following table illustrates the hypothetical total return at maturity on the Notes. The “total return” as used in this free writing prospectus is the number, expressed as a percentage, that results from comparing the payment at maturity per $1,000 principal amount Note to $1,000. The hypothetical total returns set forth below are for illustrative purposes only and may not be the actual total returns applicable to a purchaser of the Notes. The numbers appearing in the following table and examples have been rounded for ease of analysis.

Basket Performance	Payment at Maturity	Total Return on the Notes
100.00%	$2,000.00	100.00%
90.00%	$1,900.00	90.00%
80.00%	$1,800.00	80.00%
70.00%	$1,700.00	70.00%

FWP–2

Basket Performance	Payment at Maturity	Total Return on the Notes
60.00%	$1,600.00	60.00%
50.00%	$1,500.00	50.00%
40.00%	$1,400.00	40.00%
30.00%	$1,300.00	30.00%
20.00%	$1,200.00	20.00%
10.00%	$1,100.00	10.00%
0.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-10.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-20.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-30.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-40.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-50.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-60.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-70.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-80.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-90.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%
-100.00%	$1,000.00	0.00%

Hypothetical Examples of Amounts Payable at Maturity

The following examples illustrate how the total returns set forth in the table above are calculated, assuming an initial investment of $1,000.

Example 1: In this case, the basket performance is positive.

Step 1: Calculate the basket performance.

Basket Component	C(i) Initial	C(i) Final	Performance of Basket Component		Weight	Basket Performance
Gas oil	277.4200	305.1620	10.00	%	1/5	2.00	%
Gasoline RBOB	3.2345	3.3962	5.00	%	1/5	1.00	%
Natural gas	1024.7500	1280.9375	25.00	%	1/5	5.00	%
Heating Oil	10.0560	11.0616	10.00	%	1/5	2.00	%
WTI Crude	110.8700	121.9570	10.00	%	1/5	2.00	%
Basket						12.00	%

Step 2: Calculate the payment at maturity.

Because the basket performance is equal to or greater than 0%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,120.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note calculated as follows:

$1,000 + [$1,000 x (basket performance x participation rate)]

$1,000 + [$1,000 x (12.00% x 100%)] = $1,120.00

Therefore, the payment at maturity is $1,120.00 per $1,000 principal amount Note, representing a 12.00% return on investment over the term of the Notes.

Example 2: In this case, the basket performance is negative.

Step 1: Calculate the basket performance.

Basket Component	C(i) Initial	C(i) Final	Performance of Basket Component		Weight	Basket Performance
Gas oil	277.4200	249.6780	-10.00	%	1/5	-2.00	%
Gasoline RBOB	3.2345	3.3962	5.00	%	1/5	1.00	%
Natural gas	1024.7500	819.8000	-20.00	%	1/5	-4.00	%
Heating Oil	10.0560	8.0448	-20.00	%	1/5	-4.00	%
WTI Crude	110.8700	88.6960	-20.00	%	1/5	-4.00	%
Basket						-13.00	%

FWP–3

Step 2: Calculate the payment at maturity.

Because the basket performance is less than 0%, the investor receives a payment at maturity of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount Note.

Selected Purchase Considerations

• Market Disruption Events and Adjustments—The basket final valuation date, the maturity date, the payment at maturity and the settlement price of the basket components on the basket final valuation date are subject to adjustment as described in the following sections of the prospectus supplement:

• For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “Reference Assets—Commodities—Market Disruption Events Relating to Notes with a Commodity as the Reference Asset” with respect to the basket components and “Reference Assets—Baskets—Market Disruption Events for Notes with the Reference Asset Comprised of a Basket of Multiple Indices, Equity Securities, Foreign Currencies, Interest Rates, Commodities, Any Other Assets or Any Combination Thereof” with respect to the reference asset; and

• For a description of further adjustments that may affect one or more of the basket components, see “Reference Assets—Commodities—Discontinuation of Trading; Alteration of Method of Calculation”, and “Reference Assets—Baskets—Adjustments Relating to Notes with the Reference Asset Comprised of a Basket”

• Preservation of Capital at Maturity—You will receive at least 100% of the principal amount of your Notes if you hold your Notes to maturity, regardless of the performance of the Index. Because the Notes are our senior unsecured obligations, payment of any amount at maturity is subject to our ability to pay our obligations as they become due.

• Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—The following section is the opinion of our special tax counsel, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and it assumes that the description of the terms of the Notes in this free writing prospectus is materially correct. The Notes will be treated as debt instruments subject to special rules governing contingent payment debt obligations for United States federal income tax purposes. If you are a U.S. individual or taxable entity, you generally will be required to accrue interest on a current basis in respect of the Notes over their term based on the comparable yield for the Notes and pay tax accordingly, even though you will not receive any payments from us until maturity. This comparable yield is determined solely to calculate the amount on which you will be taxed prior to maturity and is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of what the actual yield will be. In addition, any gain you may recognize on the sale or maturity of the Notes will be taxed as ordinary interest income and any loss you may realize on the sale or maturity of the Notes would generally be ordinary loss to the extent of the interest you previously included as income in respect of the Notes and thereafter would be capital loss. If you are a secondary purchaser of the Notes, the tax consequences to you may be different.

For a further discussion of the tax treatment of your Notes, including information regarding obtaining the comparable yield for your Notes, please see the discussion under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment of the Notes as Indebtedness for U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes—Contingent Payment Debt Instruments” in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Selected Risk Considerations

An investment in the Notes involves significant risks. Investing in the Notes is not equivalent to investing directly in the basket components. These risks are explained in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus supplement, including the risk factors discussed under the following headings:

• “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to All Notes”;

• “Risk Factors—Additional Risks Relating to Notes Which Pay No Interest”; and

• “Additional Risks Relating to Notes with Reference Assets That Are Commodities, an Index Containing Commodities, Shares or Other Interests in Exchange-Traded Funds Invested in Commodities or Based in Part on Commodities”; and

In addition to the risks described above, you should consider the following:

• The Notes Might Not Pay More Than the Principal Amount—You may receive a lower payment at maturity than you would have received if you had invested in the basket components directly. If the basket performance is not positive, you will not receive a payment at maturity of more than the principal amount of your Notes. This will be true even if the settlement prices of some or all of the basket components were higher than the settlement prices on the basket initial valuation date at some time during the term of the Notes but later falls below those initial settlement prices.

• No Interest—As a holder of the Notes, you will not receive interest payments.

• Certain Built-In Costs Are Likely to Adversely Affect the Value of the Notes Prior to Maturity—While the payment at maturity described in this free writing prospectus is based on the full principal amount of your Notes, the original issue price of the Notes includes the agent’s commission and the cost of hedging our obligations under the Notes through one or more of our affiliates. As a result, the price, if any, at which Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC will be willing to purchase Notes from you in secondary market transactions will likely be lower than the original issue price, and any sale prior to the maturity date could result in a substantial loss to you. The Notes are not designed to be short-term trading instruments. Accordingly, you should be able and willing to hold your Notes to maturity.

FWP–4

• Lack of Liquidity—The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC intend to offer to purchase the Notes in the secondary market but are not required to do so. Even if there is a secondary market, it may not provide enough liquidity to allow you to trade or sell the Notes easily. Because other dealers are not likely to make a secondary market for the Notes, the price at which you may be able to trade your Notes is likely to depend on the price, if any, at which Barclays Capital Inc. and other affiliates of Barclays Bank PLC are willing to buy the Notes.

• Potential Conflicts—We and our affiliates play a variety of roles in connection with the issuance of the Notes, including acting as calculation agent and hedging our obligations under the Notes. In performing these duties, the economic interests of the calculation agent and other affiliates of ours are potentially adverse to your interests as an investor in the Notes.

• Many Economic and Market Factors Will Impact the Value of the Notes—In addition to the prices of the basket components on any day, the value of the Notes will be affected by a number of economic and market factors that may either offset or magnify each other, including:

• the expected demand or supply for the basket components;

• the time to maturity of the Notes;

• interest and yield rates in the market generally;

• a variety of economic, financial, political, regulatory or judicial events; and

• our creditworthiness, including actual or anticipated downgrades in our credit ratings.

Historical Information

The following graphs set forth the historical performance of the basket components based on the daily basket components settlement prices from January 4, 2000 through April 9, 2008, except for Gasoline RBOB which is from October 3, 2005. The settlement prices on April 9, 2008 were US$1024.7500/metric ton with respect to Gas oil, US$277.4200 /gallon with respect to Gasoline RBOB, US$10.0560/MMBTU with respect to Natural gas, US$3.2345/gallon with respect to Heating Oil, and US$110.8700/barrel with respect to WTI Crude.

We obtained the basket components settlement prices below from Bloomberg, L.P. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information obtained from Bloomberg, L.P. The historical levels of the basket components should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no assurance can be given as to the basket components settlement prices on the basket final valuation date. We cannot give you assurance that the performance of the basket components will result in any return in addition to your initial investment.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

FWP–5

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

FWP–6

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.

FWP–7