![Barnards inn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Barnards_inn.jpg)
Barnard's Inn is a former
Inn of Chancery
The Inns of Chancery or ''Hospida Cancellarie'' were a group of buildings and legal institutions in London initially attached to the Inns of Court and used as offices for the clerks of chancery, from which they drew their name. Existing from a ...
in
Holborn
Holborn ( or ) is a district in central London, which covers the south-eastern part of the London Borough of Camden and a part ( St Andrew Holborn Below the Bars) of the Ward of Farringdon Without in the City of London.
The area has its root ...
, London. It is now the home of
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in Central London, England. It does not enroll students or award degrees. It was founded in 1596 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, and hosts ove ...
, an institution of higher learning established in 1597 that hosts public lectures.
History
![Barnard's Inn 20130413 058](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Barnard%27s_Inn_20130413_058.JPG)
Barnard's Inn dates back at least to the mid-thirteenth century – it was recorded as part of the estate of Sir
Adam de Basing
Adam de Basing (died 1266) was a 13th-century English politician and Mayor of London. The scion of a London political family, he was the son of alderman Peter Basing and grandson of an earlier mayor, Salomon de Basing.Fox, Christine M. (2014)"A H ...
(Adam de Baysing), one time
Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the City of London and the leader of the City of London Corporation. Within the City, the Lord Mayor is accorded precedence over all individuals except the sovereign and retains various traditional pow ...
. It passed on to John Mackworth, the
Dean of Lincoln
The Dean of Lincoln is the head of the Chapter of Lincoln Cathedral in the city of Lincoln, England in the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln. Christine Wilson was installed as Dean on 22 October 2016. , who in turn passed it on to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln on his death in 1451. Three years later, it was established as an
Inn of Chancery
The Inns of Chancery or ''Hospida Cancellarie'' were a group of buildings and legal institutions in London initially attached to the Inns of Court and used as offices for the clerks of chancery, from which they drew their name. Existing from a ...
– these were schools for law students before they passed on to an
Inn of Court. Barnard's Inn was one of two Inns of Chancery linked to
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and W ...
, the other being
Staple Inn
Staple Inn is a part-Tudor period, Tudor building on the south side of High Holborn street in the City of London, London, England. Located near Chancery Lane tube station, it is used as the London venue for meetings of the Institute and Faculty ...
. Members of Gray's Inn were appointed readers to the Barnard or Staple Inn. For example, in the meeting of the Pension of Gray's Inn, 19 November 1617, it was stated: "Mr. William Denny chosen Reader of Barnard's Inn." Members of Barnard or Staple's Inn had to pay four pounds for being admitted to Gray's Inn. Hence, at the meeting of the Pension 15 May 1626 it was said that gentlemen coming from Barnard or Staple's Inn "and crave the benefit of the fine of 43 pounds and 4 shillings upon their admittance shall be admitted of the third table and paye but 43 pounds and 4 shillings in that respect, otherwise to paye foure poundes as others do notwithstanding they be of Barnards Inne or Staple Inne."
[Pension Book of Gray's Inn, p. 271.]
Barnard's Inn was badly damaged during the
Gordon Riots in 1780. An adjacent distillery, owned by a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
, Mr Langdale (who escaped), was set alight by rioters. The Hall and other buildings were damaged and one of the officers of the Inn witnessed a "sturdy fellow" pumping up
gin from the cellar which he proceeded to sell at a
penny a mug to the thirsty onlookers of the fire. The Inn received £3,200 in compensation for the damage.
By the 17th century, qualified
attorneys were allowed to practise from Inns of Chancery as well as Inns of Court. By 1830, it had effectively become a set of residential chambers. In 1888, the link to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln was broken and soon it was purchased by the
Mercers' Company
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in the order of precedence of the Companies. It is the first of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. Although of even older origin, the c ...
, serving as premises for the
Mercers' School
The Mercers' School was an independent school in the City of London, England, with a history going back at least to 1542, and perhaps much further. It was operated by the Worshipful Company of Mercers and was closed in 1959.
History
After the dis ...
until 1959. It has been used as a venue for lectures by
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in Central London, England. It does not enroll students or award degrees. It was founded in 1596 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, and hosts ove ...
since 1991.
Buildings
![Barnards Inn Hall - back of hall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Barnards_Inn_Hall_-_back_of_hall.jpg)
The buildings consist of a Hall, with 18th-century chambers and reception room. The Hall has three wooden bays, and dates from the 15th Century with 16th-century
linen fold
Linenfold (or linen fold) is a simple style of relief carving used to decorate wood panelling with a design "imitating window tracery", "imitating folded linen" or "stiffly imitating folded material". Originally from Flanders, the style became ...
wood panelling. The roof timbers include the only surviving
crown post
A crown post is a term in traditional timber framing for a post in roof framing which stands on a '' tie beam'' or ''collar beam'' and supports a ''collar plate''.Alcock, N. W.. Recording timber-framed buildings: an illustrated glossary. London ...
s in Greater London. Some chalk-and-tile walling in the seminar room below dates back to
Roman London.
The Hall suffered from poor repair and two inadequate restorations in the 19th century. The
Mercers' Company
The Worshipful Company of Mercers is the premier Livery Company of the City of London and ranks first in the order of precedence of the Companies. It is the first of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies. Although of even older origin, the c ...
organised substantial repairs in 1932. The roof was removed, renovated and replaced and two fireplaces of
Tudor design were installed. The windows were reglazed, releaded and reframed. The windows contain the armorial bearings of Principals of Barnard's Inn:
* William Harvey (1545)
* Gilbert Hide (1558)
* Thomas Wilcox (1574)
* George Copuldike (1594)
* John Wicksteed (1594)
* Pieter van de Putte (1666)
* Silvester Petyt (1701)
* William Betts (1704)
* William Manlove (1710)
* Matthew Lancaster (1716)
*
Dingley Askham
Dingley Askham (died 12 July 1728) was an English attorney, latterly Principal of Barnard's Inn in London.Christopher Brooks: "The Admissions Registers of Barnard's Inn 1620-1869" (1995; Selden Society Supp. Series 12)
Biography
Askham was a nativ ...
(1722)
* Wiseman Claycett (1728)
The hall was renovated again in 1990, adding facilities for meetings and functions, ready to become the home of
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in Central London, England. It does not enroll students or award degrees. It was founded in 1596 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, and hosts ove ...
.
Literary reference
The hero of
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...
's novel ''
Great Expectations'', Pip, lodged in Barnard's Inn with Herbert Pocket for a number of years following his arrival in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, which would have been circa 1820.
See also
*
List of demolished buildings and structures in London
This list of demolished buildings and structures in London includes buildings, structures and urban scenes of particular architectural and historical interest, scenic buildings which are preserved in old photographs, prints and paintings, but whic ...
References
External links
Description of Barnard's Inn Hallfrom
Gresham College
Gresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in Central London, England. It does not enroll students or award degrees. It was founded in 1596 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham, and hosts ove ...
{{Use dmy dates, date=March 2017
Legal buildings in London
Cultural and educational buildings in London
Inns of Chancery
Buildings and structures in the City of London
Gresham College
Buildings and structures in Holborn