THE TEMPLE. Those bricky towers, The which on Thames' broad aged back do ride, The temple is an irregular pile of buildings, so called from having been anciently the residence of an order denominated Knights Templars, who settled here in the reign of Henry II. Led by indolence and luxury from the rigid obligations of a religious life, they were suppressed in 1310, when their vast possessions fell to the Knights of St. John, who soon after let the buildings on this spot to students-at-law, and in the possession of that class it has since continued. It is now divided into two societies, called the Inner and Middle Temples, and having the name, in common with other law societies in London, of inns of court. There are two entrances from Fleet street; that of the Inner Temple opposite the south end of Chancery-lane; and the other, to the Middle Temple, nearer to Temple-Bar. The Inner Temple Hall is a small but fine room, ornamented with portraits of several of the judges. Before the Hall is a spacious garden, laid out with great care and kept in perfect order. It lies along the river, and has a spacious gravel walk or terrace on the water's edge. In the summer evenings it is an agreeable and much frequented resort. Open from six o'clock till dusk. The Hall of the Middle Temple is spacious and elegant, and has been the scene of many festive meetings. The garden is small, but pleasant and retired; and is said to have been the scene of the first fatal quarrel between the Houses of York and Lancaster. LINCOLN'S INN, Situated to the south of Holborn, and adjoining Chancery-lane, derives its name from Henry de Lacey, Earl of Lincoln, who had a stately mansion on this spot, which, just before his death, in 1310, he appropriated to the study of the law. It has a handsome chapel, built by Inigo Jones, in which is a tablet to the memory of Mr. Spencer Percival; a spacious hall; and a library, well stocked with books and manuscripts, on parliamentary, judicial, and forensic subjects. Contiguous to the Hall is the Vice-Chancellor's Court, erected in 1816. THE NEW HALL, Lincoln's Inn-fields. This noble building was erected in 1844, from designs by Philip Hardwick, Esq. R. A. for the honourable society of Lincoln's Inn. It contains a dining hall, one hundred and twenty feet long, forty-five feet wide, and fifty-four feet high; and library capable of containing thirty thousand volumes, for the benchers and students. The external walls are of red brick and stone; and the roof an open timbered one, of the character of those used in the sixteenth century, about the period when the Inn was established for the study of the law. A fine terraced walk is formed on the east side of the building, and continued to the northern extremity of the garden. GRAY'S INN, Adjacent to Holborn, received its name from the family of Gray, of Wilton, who acquired a residence here, and demised it, during the reign of Edward III. to certain students-at-law. The chief ornament of this Inn is the spacious garden behind it, which, according to tradition, the great Lord Bacon frequented. These Inns are governed by the respective penchers, who permit none but professional persons to reside in them, a rule to which the minor inns are not so strictly subjected. THE INNS OF CHANCERY. LYON'S INN, Wych-street.-Formerly a common inn, having the sign of a lion. It is an appendage to the Inner Temple. SYMOND'S INN, Chancery-lane.-This was formerly the station of the Masters in Chancery, until they were removed to their present more commodious offices, in Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane. THAVIE'S INN, Holborn, south-side.-The property of the society of Lincoln's Inn. It formerly belonged to John Thavie, in the reign of Edward III. from whom it derives its name. NEW INN, Wych-street.-Adjoining Clement's Inn, and an appendage to the Middle Temple. BARNARD'S INN, Holborn, south-side. -- Belongs to Gray's Inn. In the Hall, which is somewhat small, are two busts, and portraits of several eminent legal functionaries. CLIFFORD'S INN, Fleet-street. Near St. Dunstan's church. Formerly the mansion of Lord de Clifford. In the Hall is an oak case, of great antiquity, in which are preserved the ancient institutions of the society. CLEMENT'S INN, Strand.-Contiguous to St. Clement's Danes. In the Hall is a portrait of Sir Matthew Hale, and five other pictures. In the garden, which is small, there is a sun-dial, supported by a figure of a negro, brought from Italy by Lord Clare. This and the lastmentioned Inn are also dependent on the Inner Temple. FURNIVAL'S INN, Holborn, north-side.-In the reign of Richard II. this was the town mansiou of Sir William le Furneval. In 1819, Mr. Peto, who holds it on a long lease, rebuilt the whole Inn, in a substantial style, with convenient suits of chambers. STAPLE'S INN, Holborn, south-side.-Is an appendage to Gray's Inn. It formerly belonged to the merchants of the Staple. In the Hall are portraits of Charles II. Queen Anne, Lord Macclesfield, Lord Chancellor Cowper, and Lord Camden; and casts of the twelve Cæsars, on brackets. |