Across the road from Temple is Lincoln’s Inn, the third of the four Inns Of Court on my itinerary. Lincoln’s Inn lays claim to being the oldest of the Inns, and probably the most architecturally-impressive as well. Most of the current buildings were designed in the 19 century by Sir Robert Taylor, Philip and Philip Charles Hardwick and Giles Gilbert Scott, all eminent and all clearly keen to impress. The centrepiece of the site is the magnificent Great Hall, home to the Inn’s library and various other legal trappings, and a monster of red-brick and stained glass opulence.
Also here is the Old Hall, equally impressive in its own way. While not on the same vast scale as the Great Hall, it’s nonetheless one of London’s most beautiful buildings. It’s not usually open to the public but time it right and you can get a sneaky peek in as someone’s unloading flowers. The walls are lined with stern, magisterial portraits and the vaulted ceiling is something to behold. It’s available for use for functions, but don’t expect it to come cheap.
As with all the Inns, there’s a chapel and dining hall as well, alongside some quite lovely gardens which are open to the public at lunchtimes. As I’m writing this up and watching the umbrellas parade up and down I can’t see the appeal but when I was there, taking pictures, it was really very pleasant.
There’s even London’s largest square attached. Lincoln’s Inn Fields is well-known as the best place in the area to sit and eat lunch of a summers day, be it under the bandstand, stretched on your back on the lawn or shading oneself under the lush greenery and avoiding marauding squirrels. If you’re feeling a little frisky in the fiduciary department, may I suggest The Terrace or perhaps a game of tennis on the tarmac courts.
Lincoln’s Inn is not so much the mysterious history of Temple but it’s nothing if not as beautiful, tranquil and well worth a lunchtime’s wander. I entered via Star Yard and just strolled around, exiting the Inn via the Fields entrance. You can also use the scary looking door on Chancery Lane, just opposite Kings College’s Maughan Library.
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September 9, 2008 at 12:48 pm
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