Northfleet History Group - June 2013 Meeting.
THE INNS OF COURT
We were delighted to welcome Ian Bevan to our meeting on 4th June for his interesting talk on the London Inns of Court. Originally founded centuries ago as accommodation for the Knights Templars, they are the professional association for barristers in England and Wales with authority to call members to the Bar.
The many ancient inns, which once included the Inns of Chancery and such well-known names as Sergeant’s Inn, Furnival’s Inn, Staple Inn and Barnard’s Inn are now all consolidated into four, these being Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn and Inner and Middle Temple, conveniently situated in central London, close to the Royal Courts of Justice, which moved from Westminster to its present building in the Strand in the 1800s.
Each of the four Inns has a Great Hall, a library, a chapel and a garden, which it is not generally realised, are open to the public.
Ian is a qualified London Guide. His fascinating talk was the first to be given using our recently-acquired PA system which I am pleased to say delivered crystal clear sound throughout the hall.
After the tea interval, our Hon. Treasurer, Brian Bennett gave a short presentation on the Northfleet Central Schools in Colyer Road, with many photographs which brought back schoolday memories to many of our members, he did not disappoint. This was our last indoor meeting before we break for the summer, during which we shall be making visits to Broadstairs and St Peter’s village in July and to the cold war bunker in Gravesend in August. We resume our indoor meetings on September 3rd when Mike Brown returns to talk about the real ‘Dad’s Army’ - The Home Front.
The many ancient inns, which once included the Inns of Chancery and such well-known names as Sergeant’s Inn, Furnival’s Inn, Staple Inn and Barnard’s Inn are now all consolidated into four, these being Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn and Inner and Middle Temple, conveniently situated in central London, close to the Royal Courts of Justice, which moved from Westminster to its present building in the Strand in the 1800s.
Each of the four Inns has a Great Hall, a library, a chapel and a garden, which it is not generally realised, are open to the public.
Ian is a qualified London Guide. His fascinating talk was the first to be given using our recently-acquired PA system which I am pleased to say delivered crystal clear sound throughout the hall.
After the tea interval, our Hon. Treasurer, Brian Bennett gave a short presentation on the Northfleet Central Schools in Colyer Road, with many photographs which brought back schoolday memories to many of our members, he did not disappoint. This was our last indoor meeting before we break for the summer, during which we shall be making visits to Broadstairs and St Peter’s village in July and to the cold war bunker in Gravesend in August. We resume our indoor meetings on September 3rd when Mike Brown returns to talk about the real ‘Dad’s Army’ - The Home Front.