Historical Background - History of The Old Bailey Courthouse - Central Criminal Court History of The Old Bailey Courthouse London's Central Criminal Court, 1673-1913 The Old Bailey, also known as Justice Hall, the Sessions House, and the Central Criminal Court, was named after the street in which it was located, just off Newgate Street and next to Newgate Prison, in the western part of the City of London. Over the centuries the building has been periodically remodelled and rebuilt in ways which both reflected and influenced the changing ways trials were carried out and reported. Contents of this Article Introductory Reading Location The Old Bailey is located about 200 yards northwest of St Paul's Cathedral, just outside the former western wall of the City of London. It is named after the street on which it is located, which itself follows the line of the original fortified wall, or "bailey", of the City. The initial location of the courthouse close to Newgate Prison allowed prisoners to be conveniently brought to the courtroom for their trials. More generally, its position between the City of London and Westminster meant it was a suitable location for trials involving people from all over the metropolis, north of the river Thames.

Introductory Reading The Courtroom Although the Old Bailey courthouse was rebuilt several times between 1674 and 1913, the basic design of the courtrooms remained the same. They were arranged so as to emphasise the contest between the accused and the rest of the court. The accused stood at “the bar” (or in “the dock”), directly facing the witness box (where prosecution and defence witnesses testified) and the judges seated on the other side of the room. Before the introduction of gas lighting in the early nineteenth century a mirrored reflector was placed above the bar, in order to reflect light from the windows onto the faces of the accused. This allowed the court to examine their facial expressions assess the validity of their testimony. In addition, a sounding board was placed over their heads in order to amplify their voices. Early in the period the jurors sat on the sides of the courtroom to both the left and the right of the accused, but from 1737 they were brought together in stalls on the defendant's right, sufficiently close together to be able to consult each other and arrive at verdicts without leaving the room.

Seated at a table below where the judges sat were clerks, lawyers, and the writers who took the shorthand notes which formed the basis of the Proceedings. Introductory Reading 1673 Open Air Building The medieval courthouse was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. In 1673 the Old Bailey was rebuilt as a three storey Italianate brick building, described by John Strype in 1720 as "a fair and stately building". In front of the courthouse was the Sessions House Yard, a place where litigants, witnesses, and court personnel could gather. The area inside the wall, where prisoners awaited trial, was called the bail dock. They were separated from the street by a brick wall with spikes on top to keep them from escaping. A surprising feature was that the ground floor of the building, where the courtroom was located, was open on one side to the weather; the upper stories were held up by doric columns. A wall had been left out in order to increase the supply of fresh air to reduce the risk that prisoners suffering from gaol fever (typhus) would infect others in court.

On the first floor there was a "stately dining room" for the justices. Inside the courtroom there was a bench for judges at the far end, and, on both sides, partitioned spaces for jurors and balconies for court officers and privileged observers. Other spectators crowded into the yard. The trials attracted a mixed audience of London's more and less respectable inhabitants, and it was alleged that criminals attended in order to devise strategies for defending themselves should they find themselves on trial. The crowd's presence could influence or intimidate the jurors sitting inside. Introductory Reading 1737 Refronting In 1737 the building was remodelled, and enclosed. Although this was purportedly in order to keep out the weather, the City authorities may also have wanted to limit the influence of spectators. The ground floor of the exterior was refaced with large masonry blocks, and the windows and roofline altered to reflect prevailing architectural styles. A passageway was constructed linking the courthouse with Newgate Prison, to facilitate the transport of prisoners between the two. The interior was rearranged so that the trial jury could sit together, since they were now expected to give their verdicts after each trial, without leaving the courtroom (see Trial Procedures ).

With the courtroom now enclosed, the danger of infection increased, and at one sessions in 1750 an outbreak of gaol fever (typhus) led to the deaths of sixty people, including the Lord Mayor and two judges. Subsequently, the judges spread nosegays and aromatic herbs to keep down the stench and prevent infection, a practice commemorated in a ceremony which continues to this day. Spectators frequently came to see the trials, and courthouse officials had the right to charge fees for entry to the galleries. The radical John Wilkes, when Sheriff of London in 1771, thought this practice undemocratic and prohibited it. Consequently at the October sessions of that year there was almost a riot due to the pressure of the crowds trying to get in, and those inside the galleries were accused of being "turbulent and unruly". Wilkes's order was rescinded, and spectators continued to pay to see trials until 1860. Introductory Reading 1774 Reconstruction In 1774 the court was rebuilt by George Dance at a cost of �15,000.

As a way of further controlling public access, a semi-circular brick wall was built around the area immediately in front of the courthouse, the bail dock. This wall provided better security for the prisoners awaiting trial and was intended to prevent communication between prisoners and the public. Public view of the courtroom windows was thereby obstructed. The narrow entrance also prevented a sudden influx of spectators into the courtroom. In addition, the passage between Newgate Prison and the Old Bailey was enclosed with brick walls. It is possible that a desire to counteract the more fortress-like appearance of the Old Bailey is one of the reasons why the City, from 1775, went to greater efforts to ensure that the Proceedings provided full and fair reports of the trials -- see the publishing history of the Proceedings . The new courthouse still had only one courtroom, but it had new and often luxurious facilities for court personnel. There was a separate room for witnesses, so that they would not be obliged to wait their turn in a nearby pub. A grand jury room was appointed with eighteen leather seated chairs and three tables.

There were also separate parlours for the Sheriff and Lord Mayor, a Lord Mayor's Clerk's Room, an Indictment Office, and a drawing room for the swordbearer and judges' clerks. The lavish provision for the judges and their servants contrasted dramatically with the prisoners' quarters in the basement. The Lord Mayor's Dining Room, for example, included a fireplace with a mosaic on the front, mahogany dining tables, chairs, a pot cupboard, and a large Turkey carpet. Looking glasses (mirrors) were added in 1787. Elaborate dinners, cooked in the kitchen on the ground floor and served with drink from the wine vault, were provided at 3pm and 5pm. Outside in the yard there was a covered colonnade for carriages and 5 coach stands. Perhaps unsurprisingly, during the Gordon Riots of 1780 the courtroom was badly damaged, and the crowds carried away the furniture and burned it on bonfires in the streets. But the damage was soon repaired. The courtroom now had four brass chandeliers and, reflecting the increased role of lawyers , a semi-circular mahogany table for council to plead from.

Since some prisoners were still branded , there were two irons for confining convicts' hands while they were burnt. A large glass mirror continued to be positioned to reflect daylight onto the face of the accused (later replaced by gas lights). Behind the jurors, and seated above them, was a gallery for spectators (fees were still charged for admission). Although only a limited number of spectators could be accommodated, the increasingly detailed Proceedings published in these years allowed anyone who read them to keep informed of events in the courtroom. In order to accommodate the growing number of trials, a second courtroom was added in 1824 by converting a neighbouring building. Reflecting the still increasing role of lawyers, the new courtroom had seating for attorneys, counsel, and law students. There were also seats for spectators, jurors in waiting, prosecutors and witnesses, and officers of the court. In subsequent decades two additional courtrooms were added, but conditions, as can be seen in this depiction, were cramped: the fourth courtroom contained little more room than was necessary for the judge, jury, and prisoner’s dock, with counsel and the clerk forced to sit in a narrow row of seats. There was no seating for the public, which had to stand in the gangway.

Introductory Reading 1907 Current Building As trials lengthened and the number of those seeking to watch increased in the late nineteenth century the courthouse building became increasingly inadequate. In 1877 a fire forced the City of London to act and proposals were drawn up for a new building. Owing to the dilapidation of Newgate Prison next door, which by the 1860s no longer held long-term prisoners, it was decided to pull down both buildings to make room for a larger building. After many delays, the new building, designed in the neo-Baroque style by E. W. Mountford and built at a cost of �392,277, was finally opened by King Edward VII in 1907. It was lavishly fitted out and adorned with symbolic reminders to the public of its virtuous purpose. On top of the 67 foot high dome a 12 foot gold leaf statue was placed of a “lady of justice” holding a sword in one hand and the scales of justice in the other; she is not, as is conventional with such figures, blindfolded.

Over the main entrance to the building figures were placed representing fortitude, the recording angel, and truth, along with the carved inscription, “defend the children of the poor and punish the wrongdoer”. The exterior was faced in Portland stone, while the interior lobbies and a monumental staircase had Sicilian marble floors, allegorical paintings representing Labour, Art, Wisdom, and Truth, and ornate mosaic arches. The four oak-pannelled courtrooms contained space for all those who needed to attend modern trials, including solicitors and barristers, court reporters, the press (who by now were the most important conduit to the public for information about trials), and spectators. Each courtroom had a spacious dock, enclosed by low partitions, for the defendants, with a staircase leading directly below to the holding cells. There were now separate rooms for male and female witnesses, and another for witnesses of “the better class”. Lawyers also had their own room, as did barristers’ clerks; the latter included a glass wall to ensure they did not engage in malpractices such as touting for business among prisoners and their associates. As in the previous building, there was an opulently appointed dining room for the judges.

At the opening ceremonies , the Recorder of London addressed the King and Queen: We trust that this building, whilst well adapted for the transaction of legal business, also possesses architectural features at once dignified and beautiful, which will make it an ornament to the metropolis of your Empire and a fitting home for the first Criminal Court of Justice in your Majesty's dominions. The building was heavily damaged by bombing in 1941 and rebuilt. A modern extension was added in 1972. Nonetheless, the current building on the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, which still holds trials of local and national significance and can be visited , remains at its core the building which was first opened in 1907. "CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT, OLD BAILEY" Lord Chief Justice Judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court Thus preserving the tradition that the Lord Mayor of London, who, as senior Magistrate of the City of London, is also the senior Judge of the Central Criminal Court. Indeed, the Commissions of Oyer and Terminer and of Gaol Delivery place the name of the Lord Mayor at the head of the list of Judges above even the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice of England.

In addition to the ex-officio judges of the City, of whom only the Recorder and the Common Serjeant sat regularly, one or more High Court Judges from the Queen's Bench Division sat almost continuously to try murders and other serious crimes. There were also a number of additional Judges who sat regularly. When necessary they were assisted by Commissioners - men of seniority and experience still in practice at the Bar - who were appointed by name and called upon to serve in a judicial capacity from time to time. On I January 1972 the Courts Act 1971 came into effect. This Act established a single Crown Court to take the place of the old system of Assizes and Quarter Sessions, and having the same jurisdiction. The Crown Court sits at various centres throughout England and Wales. The Central Criminal Court is the name of the Crown Court Centre in the City of London, the name being specifically preserved by Section 4 (7) of the Act. The Judges who now sit at the Central Criminal Court are as before except that the additional Judges and Commissioners are now Circuit Judges and Recorders.

As far as the Central Criminal Court is concerned Section 4 (7) provides that where proceedings are to be heard and disposed of before a single Judge, the Lord Mayor of the City and any Alderman of the City shall be entitled to sit as Judges with any Judge of the High Court or any Circuit Judge or Recorder The staff, which numbers about 120, and is appointed by the Lord Chancellor's Department of the Home Civil Service, is responsible for preparation of the papers of the Court (including preferring the indictment and legal aid matters); arranging the hearing, and the availability of jurors; formalities in court during the hearing; payment of jurors and witnesses expenses, and the majority of counsel's and Solicitors' fees; and court records. The court building now comprises the original wing, which contains 7 courts and was opened in 1907 on the site of Newgate Prison, and the new south wing which contains 12 Courts and was opened in 1972. In March 1973 the building was damaged by an IRA terrorist bomb which exploded in a car parked by the pavement in Old Bailey.

Many windows were broken and some structural damage was caused both to the Court and to neighbouring buildings, including the Old George Public house opposite the Court. Nobody was killed, although many suffered shock and injuries from flying glass. A piece of glass can still be seen embedded in an inside wall on the ground floor. About 1500 cases (1973) are now committed to the Central Criminal Court for trial each year and 1200 members of the public are called upon each month to serve as jurors. CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES THROUGH THE CENTURIES YEAR 966 First reference to Court of Hustings. Genesis of London's legal Rights and customs. 1086 Reference to Newgate as a "Heynhouse" or hateful jail. 1132 Charter granted by Henry I to citizens of London confirming their ancient rights and granting new ones. The right to appoint their own "Justicier" was granted. "And none other shall be Justicier over these same men of London". Pipe Roll of this date shows site value as �3.6.8d. 1241 Certain Jews imprisoned in Newgate until their kinsmen in Norwich paid a fine.

Crime was the common one then brought against Jews, usually ill-founded, of circumcising a Christian child. 1235 Sheriff imprisoned for allowing a prisoner to escape. Prisoner supposed to have murdered a cousin of the Queen. Wat Tyler broke open Newgate and freed the prisoners. 1414 Fever broke out. Keeper and 64 others died of it. 1423 There is a reference to "Whit's Palace". Money left by Richard Whittington, Lord Mayor, for charitable purposes was used for renovating Newgate. 1518 "Evil May Day". May put to death at Newgate for May Day rioting. King Henry VIII judged the prisoners in person. Many reprieved at foot of scaffold on the intervention of the King's wife and sister. 1539;First Court erected. Up to this time Courts held in the open (as Hustings) or on private premises. 1657 Press Yard in use in Newgate. For those who refused to plead, weights were placed on top of body and added to until dead. Those convicted of Felony forfeited their goods so this end was opted for by prisoners to avoid forfeiture. Mayor Strangeways died in this way.

Jury fined for not convicting defendants. imprisoned in Newgate until fines paid. Some sent message to Lord Chief Justice who reviewed their case and confirmed the important right of juries to bring in their own verdict without interference by the Judge. See plaque on ground floor of old building. 1689 Lord Chief Justice Wright imprisoned in Newgate. 1690 Record of man imprisoned for 47 years; married and had several children in Newgate. Held on a Fiat of the Attorney-General and never brought to trial. 1696 Keeper paid �3,500 for his post. Could charge "fees". Kept a sort of Wet Canteen where prisoners and warders regaled themselves with liquor. Prisoners usually paid. 1718 Hangman hanged for murder of a woman in Moorfields. Drunk from time of entering prison to time of execution. 1724 Jack Sheppard made his series of sensational escapes. Hanged at Tyburn when "All London turned out to see him". 1750 Outbreak of Jail fever (probably typhoid) in Newgate. Many died, including the Lord mayor and two judges.

Bunches of flowers began to be carried and sweet smelling herbs spread about in an attempt to ward off illness. Still done today at opening of summer Sessions. 1772 Edward Dennis, public hangman, imprisoned in Newgate for pickpocketing. 1777 Gate removed. See plaque. Mary Jones, aged 19, mother of 2 children, convicted at the Old Bailey of shoplifting in Ludgate Hill and hanged. Had baby at the breast while being taken from Newgate to Tyburn. Case used in Parliament in an attempt by Sir William Meredith to reduce the number of of fences carrying the death penalty, which totalled about 190. 1780 June. "No popery" riots by supporters of Lord George Gordon (1751-93). Excuse by underprivileged person for destruction and looting. Newgate broken into and rioters already imprisoned there released. Some due for execution next day. Edward Dennis, public hangman, again imprisoned in Newgate and tried and sentenced to death for taking part in the riots in Holborn. Later reprieved so that he could hang his fellow rioters. In office 1771-1786.

Had a right to the clothes and personal property of his victims. 1781 Lord Gordon acquitted of High Treason charge arising out of 1780 riots. 1783 November. Last execution at Tyburn. A place of execution for 600 years. 50,000 executions. Executions then carried out in front of Newgate Prison, opposite present old building, up to 1868. 1785 John Howard, prison reformer, introduced solitary confinement in Newgate. 1787 Lord Gordon imprisoned in Newgate with Jewish servant, being unable to find sureties after his conviction for publishing pamphlets libelling the Queen of France and the English Judges and Law. 1793 Death of Lord Gordon in Newgate. 1800 The Editor of the Times imprisoned in Newgate for libelling the Duke of York. Received state pension while in prison. 1813 Elizabeth Fry, prison reformer, began work in Newgate. 1830 Last use of the pillory which had existed since time immemorial outside Newgate. 1835 Three boys under 14 hanged for burglary. 1868 Last public execution; Michael Barrett.

Executions then within the walls. 1881 Newgate ceased as a prison. 1902 Last execution. First hand appeared through the wall from the inside. It was that of a workman engaged in demolishing Newgate to make way for the new Court building. This fulfilled an old prophecy that "an innocent man will one day break through the walls of Newgate". 1907 New Court opened by King Edward VII. 1941 North West corner hit by bomb. 2 officials killed. Court 2 destroyed. 1950 Rebuilding commenced. 1000+ images about 19th London - Police, crime, court, prison on Pinterest | Runners, Police uniforms and Police officer King's Bench Prison, London, UK. suzilove.com Save Fleet Prison, London, UK. By Thomas Rowlandson and Augustus Pugin. suzilove.com Save Old Newgate Prison, London, UK. The fate for those who had unpaid debts and therefore a constant worry for many. suzilove.com Save Learn more at tes.com "It's a fair cop" London Police. There are many suggestions about how the police force got its many nicknames.

On the street the police were known as ’bobbies’ and ‘peelers’, which came from the name of their founder. ‘Coppers’ came from the bands of copper on their truncheons and the name ‘Old Bill’ was used because the policemen bore the symbol of the king – William IV. More Learn and talk about Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, Courts in London, Crown Courts, Edwardian architecture in London For other uses, see Old Bailey (disambiguation) . The Central Criminal Court, widely known as the Old Bailey from the street on which it stands Entrance door to the Old Bailey. The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales , commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street on which it stands, is a court in London and one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court . Part of the present building stands on the site of the medieval Newgate gaol , on a road named Old Bailey which follows the line of the City of London 's fortified wall (or bailey ), which runs from Ludgate Hill to the junction of Newgate Street and Holborn Viaduct .

The Crown Court sitting at the Central Criminal Court deals with major criminal cases from within Greater London and, in exceptional cases, from other parts of England and Wales. Trials at the Old Bailey, as at other courts, are open to the public; however, they are subject to stringent security procedures. Contents History[ edit ] The court originated as the sessions house of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London and of Middlesex . The original medieval court was first mentioned in 1585; it was next to the older Newgate gaol , and seems to have grown out of the endowment to improve the gaol and rooms for the Sheriffs, made possible by a gift from Richard Whittington . It was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt in 1674, with the court open to the weather to prevent the spread of disease. Plaque commemorating Bushel's Case of 1670 In 1734 it was refronted, enclosing the court and reducing the influence of spectators: this led to outbreaks of typhus , notably in 1750 when 60 people died, including the Lord Mayor and two judges.

It was rebuilt again in 1774 and a second courtroom was added in 1824. Over 100,000 criminal trials were carried out at the Old Bailey between 1674 and 1834. [1] In 1834, it was renamed as the Central Criminal Court and its jurisdiction extended beyond that of London and Middlesex to the whole of the English jurisdiction for trials of major cases. Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service manages the courts and administers the trials but the building itself is owned by the City of London Corporation , which finances the building, the running of it, the staff and the maintenance out of their own resources. [2] The court was originally intended as the site where only criminals accused of crimes committed in the City and Middlesex were tried. However, in 1856, there was public revulsion at the accusations against the doctor William Palmer that he was a poisoner and murderer. This led to fears that he could not receive a fair trial in his native Staffordshire . The Central Criminal Court Act 1856 was passed to enable his trial to be held at the Old Bailey.

In the 19th century, the Old Bailey was a small court adjacent to Newgate gaol. Hangings were a public spectacle in the street outside until May 1868. The condemned would be led along Dead Man's Walk between the prison and the court, and many were buried in the walk itself. Large, riotous crowds would gather and pelt the condemned with rotten fruit and vegetables and stones. [2] In 1807, 28 people were crushed to death after a pie-seller's stall overturned. A secret tunnel was subsequently created between the prison and St Sepulchre's church opposite, to allow the chaplain to minister to the condemned man without having to force his way through the crowds. [2] The present Old Bailey building dates from 1902 but it was officially opened on 27 February 1907. It was designed by E. W. Mountford and built on the site of the infamous Newgate gaol, which was demolished to allow the court buildings to be constructed. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition: "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". King Edward VII opened the courthouse.

Lady Justice statue on the top of the court building On the dome above the court stands a bronze statue of Lady Justice , executed by the British sculptor F. W. Pomeroy . She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice , however, the figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her “maidenly form” is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. [3] During the Blitz of World War II, the Old Bailey was bombed and severely damaged, but subsequent reconstruction work restored most of it in the early 1950s. In 1952, the restored interior of the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Court was once again open. The interior of the Great Hall (underneath the dome) is decorated with paintings commemorating the Blitz, as well as quasi-historical scenes of St Paul's Cathedral with nobles outside. Running around the entire hall are a series of axioms, some of biblical reference.

They read: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life" "The welfare of the people is supreme" "Right lives by law and law subsists by power" "Poise the cause in justice's equal scales" "Moses gave unto the people the laws of God" "London shall have all its ancient rights" The Great Hall (and the floor beneath it) is also decorated with many busts and statues, chiefly of British monarchs, but also of legal figures, and those who achieved renown by campaigning for improvement in prison conditions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This part of the building also houses the shorthand-writers' offices. The lower level also hosts a minor exhibition on the history of the Old Bailey and Newgate featuring historical prison artefacts. In 1973, the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA exploded a car bomb in the street outside the courts, killing one and injuring 200 people. A shard of glass is preserved as a reminder, embedded in the wall at the top of the main stairs.

[2] South Block extension Between 1968 and 1972, a new South Block, designed by the architects Donald McMorran and George Whitby, was built to accommodate more modern courts. There are presently 18 courts in use. Court 19 is now used variously as a press overflow facility, as a registration room for first-day jurors or as a holding area for serving jurors. The original ceremonial gates to the 1907 part of the building are only used by the Lord Mayor and visiting royalty. The general entrance to the building is a few yards down the road in the South Block and is often featured as a backdrop in television news reports. There is also a separate rear entrance, not open to the public, which permits more discreet access. In Warwick Square, on the western side of the complex, is the "Lord Mayor's Entrance". A remnant of the city wall is preserved in the basement beneath the cells. The court manager is known by the title of the Secondary of the City of London. As of 2012, the Secondary is Charles Henty. [4] Judges[ edit ] An Old Bailey trial , circa 1808.

All judges sitting in the Old Bailey are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" whether they are High Court , Circuit Judges or Recorders. The Lord Mayor and aldermen of the City of London are entitled to sit on the judges' bench during a hearing but do not participate in hearings. By tradition the judge sits slightly off-centre in case the Lord Mayor decides to come in; if he did he would take the centre chair. The most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court has the title of Recorder of London , and his deputy has the title of Common Serjeant of London . The position of Recorder of London is distinct from that of a recorder , which is a part-time judicial office, holders of which sit part-time as judges of the Crown or county courts. Some of the most senior criminal lawyers in the country sit as recorders in the Central Criminal Court. As of 2015 [update] the Recorder of London is Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC , MA , [5] who took over as the Recorder of London on the retirement of Judge Brian Barker who took over on the retirement of Judge Peter Beaumont CBE QC , appointed in December 2004 following the death of his predecessor, Judge Michael Hyam.

From 1975 to 1990 the very outspoken Sir James Miskin served as the Recorder of London with a number of controversial cases coming before him. [6] Old Bailey Old Bailey <div style="width:205px;float:right;margin-left:10px;"> </div> The Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom , commonly known as the Old Bailey, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court. The Crown Court sitting at the Central Criminal Court deals with major criminal cases from Greater London and, in exceptional cases, from other parts of Britain. It stands on the site of the medieval Newgate Gaol, on Old Bailey, a road which follows the line of the City of London 's fortified wall (or bailey), and gives the court its popular name. It lies between Holborn Circus and St Paul's Cathedral. The building and its history The court originated as the sessions house of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London and of Middlesex.

The original medieval court was first mentioned in 1585; it seems to have grown out of the endowment for an improved Newgate prison and rooms for the Sheriffs made possible by a gift from Sir Richard Whittington. It was destroyed in the 1666 Fire of London. It was rebuilt in 1674, with the court open to the weather to prevent the spread of disease. In 1734 it was refronted, enclosing the court and reducing the influence of spectators: this led to outbreaks of typhus , notably in 1750 when sixty people died, including the Lord Mayor and two judges. It was rebuilt again in 1774 and a second courtroom was added in 1824. Over 9 000 criminal trials were carried out in the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1834, including all death penalty cases. In 1834 it was renamed as the Central Criminal Court and its jurisdiction extended beyond that of London and Middlesex to the whole of the English jurisdiction for trial of major cases. However, the building actually belongs to the City of London Corporation.

The court was originally meant to be the site where only criminals accused of crimes committed in the City and Middlesex were tried. However, in 1856, there was public revulsion at the accusations against the doctor, William Palmer, that he was a poisoner and murderer. This led to fears that he could not receive a fair trial in his native Staffordshire. The Central Criminal Court Act of 1856 was passed to enable his trial to be held at the Old Bailey. The present building dates from 1902, but it was officially opened on 27 February 1907. It was designed by E. W. Mountford and built on the site of the infamous Newgate Prison, which was demolished to allow the court buildings to be constructed. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition, "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". King Edward VII personally opened the courthouse. On the dome above the court stands a statue of Lady Justice, executed by the British sculptor, F. W. Pomeroy. She holds a sword in her right hand and a pair of weighing scales in her left.

The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice; however, the figure is not blindfolded. A remnant of the city wall is preserved in the basement beneath the cells. During The Blitz, the Old Bailey was bombed and severely damaged, but subsequent reconstruction work restored most of it in the early 1950s. In 1952, the restored interior of the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Courts was once again open. The interior of the Great Hall (underneath the dome) is decorated with paintings commemorating the blitz, as well as quasi-historical scenes of St Paul's Cathedral with nobles outside. Running around the entire hall are a series of axioms, some of biblical reference.

They read: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life" "The welfare of the people is supreme" "Right lives by law and law subsists by power" "Poise the cause in justice equal scales" "Moses gave unto the people the laws of God" "London shall have all its ancient rights" The Great Hall (and the floor beneath it) is also decorated with many busts and statues, chiefly British monarchs, but also of legal figures, and those who achieved renown by campaigning for improvement in prison conditions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This part of the building also houses the shorthand-writers' offices. The lower level also hosts a minor exhibition on the history of the Old Bailey and Newgate featuring historical prison artefacts. Between 1968 and 1972, a new South Block, designed by the architects, Donald McMorran and George Whitby, was built to accommodate more modern courts. The original ceremonial gates to the 1907 part of the building are only used by the Lord Mayor and visiting royalty. The general entrance to the building is a few yards down the road in the South Block and is often featured as a backdrop in television news reports.

There is also a separate rear entrance, not open to the public, which permits more discreet access. In Warwick Square, on the western side of the complex, is the 'Lord Mayor's Entrance'. Judges All judges sitting in the Old Bailey are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" whether they are High Court, Circuit Judges or Recorders. The Lord Mayor of the City of London and Aldermen of the City of London are entitled to sit on the judges' bench during a hearing but do not participate in trials. The most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court has the title of Recorder of London, and his deputy has the title of Common Serjeant of London. The present Recorder of London is Judge Peter Beaumont QC , who was appointed in December 2004 following the death earlier that year of his predecessor, Judge Michael Hyam. The present Common Serjeant is Judge Brian Barker QC. The position of Recorder of London should not be confused with that of recorder, which is a part-time judicial office, holders of which sit part-time as judges of the Crown Court or the County Court. Some of the most senior criminal lawyers in the country sit as Recorders in the Central Criminal Court.

Civic role The court house originated as part of the City of London's borough judicial system, and it remains so. The Recorder and the Common Serjeant are both City officers, and the Recorder is a member of the Common Council because he is also a member of the Court of Aldermen. The City's Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor are justices there, but their jurisdiction is now nominal. The Sheriffs are resident with the senior judges in the complex. In Court Number 1, there are several benches set aside for the Bridge House Estates Committee (the City Bridge Trust), which is the actual owner of the building. In popular culture In the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens , the Old Bailey is the courthouse named in the book where Charles Darnay is put on trial for treason. In the movie Witness for the Prosecution, the court scenes are set in the Old Bailey. In the novel Patriot Games and the eponymous film, terrorist Sean Miller is tried in the Old Bailey for the attempted kidnapping of the Prince & Princess of Wales(which killed two guards), and sentenced to life in prison after Jack Ryan's testimony(Ryan foiled the plot by disabling Miller and killing another terrorist with Miller's gun).

The Old Bailey is destroyed with explosives by the vigilante V in the graphic novel V for Vendetta and its film adaptation. In the graphic novel, V entertains a long, one-sided conversation with the statue of Justice on the roof, in which he professes his love for her but accuses her of being a whore for the fictional fascist government, and tells her of his new mistress named Anarchy. The television series Rumpole of the Bailey concerns a defence lawyer who works at the Bailey. Sir John Mortimer, a criminal barrister and author , often appeared at the Old Bailey. His courtroom experiences led him to create the fictional character Horace Rumpole. In the popular Australian folk song "Botany Bay", the first verse references the "well known Old Bailey". The song tells the tale of a group of prisoners being taken from Britain to the penal colonies of Australia . In the television series Bad Girls, the character Nikki Wade's successful appeal took place at the Old Bailey. The book Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman has a character named Old Bailey. In the television series Law & Order: UK several interior scenes set in the Old Bailey are shot in the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Courts with the murals and axioms clearly visible.

The entire sketch "Court Charades" from the British comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus happens at the Old Bailey, appearing when it's showing the arrival of the Spanish Inquisition. It is featured in the rhyme Oranges and Lemons, which, in turn, is featured in George Orwell 's Nineteen Eighty-Four. (Wikipedia) Old Bailey - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki More info on Old Bailey Wikis Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics St Paul's Cathedral Did you know ... More interesting facts on Old Bailey Include this on your site/blog: For other uses, see Old Bailey (disambiguation) . The Old Bailey. An Old Bailey trial circa 1808. South Block, Old Bailey. The Central Criminal Court in England , commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London , one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court .

The Crown Court sitting at the Central Criminal Court deals with major criminal cases from Greater London and, in exceptional cases, from other parts of England . Part of the present building stands on the site of the medieval Newgate Gaol , on Old Bailey, a road which follows the line of the City of London 's fortified wall (or bailey ). It lies between Holborn Circus and St Paul's Cathedral . As there is a requirement for justice to be seen to be done, trials at the Old Bailey, as at other courts, are open to the public, subject to stringent security procedures. Contents 7 External links The building and its history The court originated as the sessions house of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of London and of Middlesex . The original medieval court was first mentioned in 1585; it was next to the older Newgate prison, and seems to have grown out of the endowment to improve Newgate prison and rooms for the Sheriffs, made possible by a gift from Sir Richard Whittington . It was destroyed in the 1666 Fire of London and rebuilt in 1674, with the court open to the weather to prevent the spread of disease.

In 1734 it was refronted, enclosing the court and reducing the influence of spectators: this led to outbreaks of typhus , notably in 1750 when sixty people died, including the Lord Mayor and two judges. It was rebuilt again in 1774 and a second courtroom was added in 1824. Over 100,000 criminal trials were carried out in the Old Bailey from 1674 to 1834, including all death penalty cases. [1] In 1834 it was renamed as the Central Criminal Court and its jurisdiction extended beyond that of London and Middlesex to the whole of the English jurisdiction for trial of major cases. Her Majesty's Courts Service manages the courts and administers the trials but the building is owned and run by the City of London Corporation , who finance the building, the running of it, the staff and the maintenance out of their own resources. [2] The court was originally meant to be the site where only criminals accused of crimes committed in the City and Middlesex were tried.

However, in 1856, there was public revulsion at the accusations against the doctor, William Palmer , that he was a poisoner and murderer. This led to fears that he could not receive a fair trial in his native Staffordshire . The Central Criminal Court Act of 1856 was passed to enable his trial to be held at the Old Bailey. in the 19th century, the Old Bailey was a small court adjacent to Newgate Prison. Hangings were a public spectacle in the street outside until late into the century. [2] The condemned would be led along Dead Man’s Walk between the prison and the court, and many were buried in the walk itself. Large, riotous Crowds would gather and pelt the condemned with rotten fruit and vegetables and stones. [2] In 1807, 28 people were crushed to death after a pie-seller's stall overturned, and a secret tunnel was subsequently created between the prison and St Sepulchre’s church opposite, to allow the priest to minister to the condemned man without having to force his way through the crowds.

[2] The present building dates from 1902, but it was officially opened on 27 February 1907. It was designed by E. W. Mountford and built on the site of the infamous Newgate Prison , which was demolished to allow the court buildings to be constructed. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition, "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". King Edward VII opened the courthouse. On the dome above the court stands a bronze statue of Lady Justice , executed by British sculptor F. W. Pomeroy . She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice ; however, the figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her “maidenly form” is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. [3] During The Blitz , the Old Bailey was bombed and severely damaged, but subsequent reconstruction work restored most of it in the early 1950s.

In 1952, the restored interior of the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Courts was once again open. The interior of the Great Hall (underneath the dome) is decorated with paintings commemorating the blitz, as well as quasi-historical scenes of St Paul's Cathedral with nobles outside. Running around the entire hall are a series of axioms, some of biblical reference. They read: "The law of the wise is a fountain of life" "The welfare of the people is supreme" "Right lives by law and law subsists by power" "Poise the cause in justice equal scales" "Moses gave unto the people the laws of God" "London shall have all its ancient rights" The Great Hall (and the floor beneath it) is also decorated with many busts and statues, chiefly British monarchs, but also of legal figures, and those who achieved renown by campaigning for improvement in prison conditions in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This part of the building also houses the shorthand-writers' offices. The lower level also hosts a minor exhibition on the history of the Old Bailey and Newgate featuring historical prison artefacts.

In 1973 The Provisional IRA exploded a car bomb in the street outside the courts, and a shard of glass is preserved as a reminder, embedded in the wall at the top of the main stairs. [2] Between 1968 and 1972, a new South Block, designed by the architects, Donald McMorran and George Whitby, was built to accommodate more modern courts. The original ceremonial gates to the 1907 part of the building are only used by the Lord Mayor and visiting royalty. The general entrance to the building is a few yards down the road in the South Block and is often featured as a backdrop in television news reports. There is also a separate rear entrance, not open to the public, which permits more discreet access. In Warwick Square, on the western side of the complex, is the 'Lord Mayor's Entrance'. A remnant of the city wall is preserved in the basement beneath the cells. Judges All judges sitting in the Old Bailey are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" whether they are High Court , Circuit Judges or Recorders.

The Lord Mayor of the City of London and Aldermen of the City of London are entitled to sit on the judges' bench during a hearing but do not participate in trials. The most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court has the title of Recorder of London , and his deputy has the title of Common Serjeant of London . The position of Recorder of London is distinct from that of recorder which is a part-time judicial office, holders of which sit part-time as judges of the Crown Court or the County Court. Some of the most senior criminal lawyers in the country sit as Recorders in the Central Criminal Court. As of 2010 the Recorder of London is Judge Peter Beaumont QC , appointed in December 2004 following the death of his predecessor, Judge Michael Hyam. The Common Serjeant is Judge Brian Barker QC. Civic role The court house originated as part of the City of London's borough judicial system, and it remains so. The Recorder and the Common Serjeant are both City officers, and the Recorder is a member of the Common Council because he is also a member of the Court of Aldermen. The City's Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor are justices there, but their jurisdiction is now nominal.

The Sheriffs are resident with the senior judges in the complex. In Court Number 1, there are several benches set aside for the Bridge House Estates Committee (the City Bridge Trust ), which is the actual owner of the building. In popular culture As the court in which the most serious criminal cases in London, and often the whole of England and Wales, have been heard for centuries, there are many references to the Old Bailey. In the book A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens , the Old Bailey is the courthouse named in the book where Charles Darnay is put on trial for treason. In the movie Witness for the Prosecution , the court scenes are set in the Old Bailey. In the novel Patriot Games and the eponymous film, terrorist Sean Miller is tried in the Old Bailey for the attempted kidnapping of the Prince & Princess of Wales (which killed two guards), and sentenced to life in prison after Jack Ryan 's testimony (Ryan foiled the plot by disabling Miller and killing another terrorist with Miller's gun). The Old Bailey is destroyed with explosives by the vigilante V in the graphic novel V for Vendetta and its film adaptation .

In the graphic novel, V entertains a long, one-sided conversation with the statue of Justice on the roof, in which he professes his love for her but accuses her of being a whore for the fictional fascist government, and tells her of his new mistress named Anarchy. The television series Rumpole of the Bailey concerns a defence lawyer who works at the Bailey. Sir John Mortimer , a criminal barrister and author , often appeared at the Old Bailey. His courtroom experiences led him to create the fictional character Horace Rumpole . In the popular Australian folk song " Botany Bay ", the first verse references the "well known Old Bailey". The song tells the tale of a group of prisoners being taken from Britain to the penal colonies of Australia . In the television series Bad Girls , the character Nikki Wade's successful appeal took place at the Old Bailey. The book Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman has a character named Old Bailey. In the television series Law & Order: UK several interior scenes are shot in the Grand Hall of the Central Criminal Court, with the murals and axioms clearly visible.

The entire sketch "Court Charades" from the British comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus happens at the Old Bailey, appearing when it's showing the arrival of the Spanish Inquisition . It is featured in the rhyme Oranges and Lemons , which, in turn, is featured in George Orwell 's Nineteen Eighty-Four . In the Leon Uris novel QB VII the courtrooms in Old Bailey feature prominently. See also

Question: The Central Criminal Court in London, also known as the Old Bailey stands on the site of which prison that closed in 1902?
Answer: NEWGATE