The Inns of Court

There are four surviving Inns of Court that were established in the 14th cent.: Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, The Inner temple and the Middle Temple. They were set up to provide accommodation for lawyers and their students. They very much resemble the colleges of Oxford or Cambridge with each Inn having a chapel, library and dining Hall. The Lawyers' chambers are grouped around courtyards and gardens. This is a walk through the Inner and Middle Temple which is open to the public but not many people realise you are allowed to walk through the archway.

This is the entrance from Fleet street (see previous blog). If you look above the archway you can see the old gas lamps. Across the road from the Temple are the Royal Courts of Justice so you sometimes see the lawyers in their black gowns going from their chambers to the courts.

Looking through the first window on the left you can see the legal documents tied up with red ribbon. This is how the phrase 'tied up in red tape' originate.

Middle Temple Hall

It is said that this is the finest Elizabethan Hall in the country.It was apparently opened by Queen Elizabeth 1 in1576 who dined here many times. It is still used as a dining hall for the Bench, Bar and students each day as well as other evening functions.

More chambers



One of the many gardens and courtyards within the Inns providing a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of Fleet street just a stone's throw away




The Temple church

The oldest part of the church is the round which was built in 1185. The church was damaged during the 2WW but was made good after the war when parts of the church which had been removed for renovation in the 19th century were returned. There are regular services in the church which members of the public can attend.