Omaha daily bee., 1908-09-27
ENGLISH LANDMARK WILL GO
six-Century-OId Inn to Give Way
to Modern Business
Block.

LONDON, Sep. 26-(specisl.)- If the
plans Of the present owner Of Clifford's
Inn hold good London will soon lose an
other of it's old landmarks. Nowadays the
news that this old gray city has lost IAN
other landmark is 80 frequently heard
that 1t Is a wonder there are any links
with past centuries left. Changes are not
what an American would call unduly rapid
in this city, but those picturesque old
places associated with even so recent a
celebrity as Dickens, nave now almost
wholly given away to the march OF the
builder.
Clifford's Inn is situated in the heart of
Fleet street and in the part of London
known as "Johnson's." within hailing dis
lance stood the famous public houses that
boswell hero used so frequently to visit,
and a few PAGES away stands the "Che-
shire Cheese" the restaurant which is still
pointed out to credulous Americans. in
particular, al the authors favorite eating
place, and where one may even see the
spot made on the wall by the greasy head
of the writer. Indeed, in Clifford's Inn it
self, Lamb, Scott, Coleridge and Southey
were frequent visitors, and in one of the
rooms lived for a time, Sir Edward Coke,
Tic prosecutor VI 6SSeA, Hdlelku, anu lHe
g~unpowder plot consplrators and the great
authority on English Jurisprudence.
Blu Clifford's inn dates from a time con-
siderably before these famous men. AS a
matter of fact it is very nearly 600 years
old, having been built in 1910. Thus It is
the Oldest of the Chancery inns. In 1874,
at the death of the widow of the fifth
Baron de clifford, to whom It was granted
hy Eduyord II ~ harap a a raof1anno fAr
law students at an annual rental of about
$50. Up to five years ago. when the inn
was sold at auction to William Willett for
800, OOO. 1t still was more or less intimately
connected with the law, but of late years
the legal fraternity have given way to
journalists and architects.
I The old buildings nav many historical
associations For instance, it was in the
ancient hall that Sir Matthew Hale sat to
adjust the boundaries of the city of Lon
don after the great fire of 1866. A docu-
ment still in existence contains a list OF
the rules 'for the honorable government
of the new inn, near Chancery lane and
is said to date back to 1879 Some of the
rules are very amusing and many of them
are still in force. BY this list we find that
THE steward for the time being shall
shut the gates of the inn at 9 o'clock in
general, or at the latest between 9 and 10
Dinner time during vacation to be II OF
the clock, and in term time, noon.'
ANY man bringing a strange man into
the butterie or pantry in the time of din.
ner or supper to drink shall be fined {
pence for every time of offending.
For every word of ribaldry spoken in
the hall during dinner or supper a fine of
l farthing.
mo member of the inn shall break into
the butterle or through the gates after
they have been shut; or play at or keep
dice, cards or any ridiculous amusements
or unlawful game; or receive, keep, or
bring into the inn any dog called a grey
hound, grey bitch. spaniel or mastiff; or
write, cut or scratch upon the tables in the
hall"
The property covers about an acre OF
ground fronting on Fetter lane and Chan
Gerry lane and abutting on the Record Of
flee. Mr.. Willett, who has been unsuc-
cessfully trying to find a purchaser since
he acquired the property intends to erect
a modern business block upon it.