The Inns of Court & Legal London: An Architect’s Guide to the Four Inns & Historic Chambers
A short walk from the thrum of Holborn and Fleet Street lies an extraordinary architectural secret dedicated to Legal London. Almost another world hides behind large walls, it is only open during the week but it's a world worth running out of the office to visit.
Here, through Tudor brick gatehouses, medieval archways, and quiet cobblestone quadrangles, sit the Four Inns of Court—Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple.
For over seven centuries, every barrister in England and Wales has been called to the Bar within these grounds. As an architect and illustrator who has spent decades studying London's built environment, I find these areas fascinating as the most remarkably preserved urban enclaves. A place where Elizabethan timber framing, Inigo Jones Classicism, Sir Christopher Wren spires, and Victorian Gothic Revival coexist seamlessly.
Whether you are seeking a meaningful Call to the Bar gift, a Silk (KC) appointment present, a judicial retirement keepsake, or looking to style a barrister's chambers, this architectural guide explores the history, design, and stories behind London's legal landmarks.
Part 1: The Four Inns of Court & Inner Precincts
1. Lincoln’s Inn & Old Buildings
Spanning 11 acres in Holborn, Lincoln’s Inn is widely considered the largest and most complete historic legal complex in London. Its Great Gatehouse on Chancery Lane, constructed in 1518 by Sir Thomas Lovell, remains one of the finest surviving red-brick Tudor structures in the capital.
The Architectural Story: The quadrangle known as Old Buildings dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. The brickwork displays classic diapering (diamond pattern dark bricks), and the Chapel—rebuilt in 1620–23 under the direction of Inigo Jones—features an open undercroft where barristers historically met clients and where John Donne preached the dedication sermon.
Legal Legends & Personalities: Sir Thomas More, William Pitt the Younger, William Gladstone, and Margaret Thatcher were all members of Lincoln’s Inn. Charles Dickens worked here as a clerk in his youth and famously made the Inn the dark, foggy epicenter of chancery litigation in Bleak House.
Explore the Artwork: View the study of Lincoln's Inn London Watercolour.
2. The Ostler’s Hut, Lincoln’s Inn
Standing quietly in the grounds of Lincoln’s Inn is one of the smallest listed buildings in London: The Ostler’s Hut.
The Architectural Story: Built in the 1860s, this tiny, slate-roofed brick structure was erected for the Inn’s ostler. An Ostler was the groom responsible for tending the horses and carriages of visiting judges, barristers, and aristocratic clients.
The Curiosity: Despite measuring barely a few square meters, it represents a rare surviving artifact of Victorian transport infrastructure embedded within a medieval legal estate and its really cute
Explore the Artwork: View my drawing of The Ostler’s Hut Lincoln’s Inn.
3. Gray’s Inn & "The Walks"
Tucked off High Holborn, Gray’s Inn is renowned for its tranquil, expansive gardens known as "The Walks," laid out in the late 16th century and is one of the largest connections of green spaces in cenral London.
The Architectural Story: The Inn’s Great Hall, constructed in the 1550s, features a magnificent carved oak hammerbeam roof and screen crafted from timber traditionally believed to come from a captured Spanish Galleon. "The Walks" were designed in 1598 by Sir Francis Bacon, who planted many of the original plane trees.
Legal Legends & Personalities: Sir Francis Bacon served as Treasurer of the Inn. In 1594, William Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors received its very first recorded performance inside Gray’s Inn Hall during the Christmas revels, so awesome.
Explore the Artwork: View my study of Gray’s Inn The Walks London.
4. Temple Church & The Temple Precincts (Inner & Middle Temple)
Occupying the sloping ground between Fleet Street and the River Thames, Inner Temple and Middle Temple occupy the historic headquarters of the Knights Templar.
The Architectural Story: The architectural centerpiece is Temple Church, consecrated in 1185 by Heraclius, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The round nave—modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem—features effigies of 13th-century knights carved from Purbeck marble. Adjacent sits Middle Temple Hall (1570), boasting one of the finest double-hammerbeam timber roofs in Europe.
Legal Legends & Personalities: In Shakespeare’s Henry VI (Part 1), Temple Garden is depicted as the exact spot where the Red and White Roses were plucked, sparking the Wars of the Roses. Famous members include Sir Walter Raleigh, Charles Lamb, and US Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Explore the Artwork: View my paintings of Temple Church Londonand Two Temple Place.
Part 2: Historic Inns of Chancery & Legal Institutions
5. Staple Inn, High Holborn
Gazing across High Holborn stands Staple Inn—the last surviving Elizabethan timber-framed Inn of Chancery in London.
The Architectural Story: Rebuilt in 1586, its iconic facade features five timber gables, overhanging jetties, and leaded glass windows that miraculously survived both the Great Fire of 1666 and the WWII Blitz. Originally a wool-stapling house in the Middle Ages, it became an Inn of Chancery attached to Gray’s Inn.
Literary Connections: Dr Samuel Johnson lived here in 1759, where he wrote his novel Rasselas over the course of a single week to pay for his mother’s funeral expenses.
Explore the Artwork: View our study of Staple Inn High Holborn.
6. The Law Society Hall, Chancery Lane
Serving as the professional headquarters for solicitors in England and Wales since 1832, The Law Society Hall anchors Chancery Lane.
The Architectural Story: Designed in the Neo-Classical style by Lewis Vulliamy and expanded in 1902 by Charles Holden, the building features dramatic Ionic columns, carved friezes, and grand reception halls lined with stained glass and marble.
Explore the Artwork: View our study of The Law Society Hall London.
7. The Royal College of Surgeons, Lincoln’s Inn Fields
Dominating the south side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields sits the imposing Ionic portico of The Royal College of Surgeons.
The Architectural Story: Originally designed by George Dance the Younger and rebuilt by Sir Charles Barry (architect of the Houses of Parliament) in 1835–37, the building houses the Hunterian Museum, containing the vast 18th-century anatomical collection of pioneer surgeon John Hunter.
Explore the Artwork: View our study of The Royal College of Surgeons Lincoln's Inn Fields.
8. The Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)
Standing on the site of the infamous medieval Newgate Prison, The Old Bailey is the most famous criminal court building in the world.
The Architectural Story: Designed in the grand Edwardian Baroque style by E.W. Mountford and opened in 1907 by King Edward VII, the dome is topped by the iconic 12-foot bronze statue of Lady Justice by F.W. Pomeroy, holding a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. It was built on the foundations of the infamous Newgate Prison which held the worst criminals. In fact you can see the execution bell in St Sepulchre-without-Newgate just across the road, it was rung at midnight when their was an execution.
Explore the Artwork: View the study of The Old Bailey City of London.
9. The Seven Stars Pub, Holborn
No architectural study of Legal London is complete without its most legendary tavern: The Seven Stars.
The Architectural Story: Established in 1602, this tiny Grade II listed pub is one of the very few timber-framed buildings in Holborn to survive the Great Fire of 1666.
Legal Legend: Situated directly behind the Royal Courts of Justice, it has served as the unofficial informal chamber for barristers, clerks, and judges for over 400 years. Its resident cat was famously known for wearing an Elizabethan lace ruff while sitting at the bar.
Explore the Artwork: View my watercolour of The Seven Stars Holborn.
Legal London Architectural Summary & Rating Index
Landmark | Location | Architectural Style | Notable Legal Connection |
Lincoln’s Inn | Chancery Lane / Holborn | Tudor Brickwork & Inigo Jones Undercroft | Thomas More, Gladstone, Charles Dickens |
The Ostler’s Hut | Lincoln’s Inn Grounds | Victorian Gothic Brick Hut | 1860s groom hut for barristers' horses |
Gray’s Inn ("The Walks") | High Holborn | Elizabethan Hall & 1598 Gardens | Sir Francis Bacon, Shakespeare performance (1594) |
Temple Church | Fleet Street / Thames | 1185 Norman Round Church & Gothic Choir | Knights Templar, Magna Carta, Henry VI |
Staple Inn | High Holborn | 1586 Timber-Framed Elizabethan Facade | Inn of Chancery, Dr Samuel Johnson |
The Law Society Hall | Chancery Lane | Neo-Classical Ionic Portico | HQ for Solicitors in England & Wales since 1832 |
The Old Bailey | City of London | 1907 Edwardian Baroque & Lady Justice Dome | Central Criminal Court, site of Newgate Prison |
The Seven Stars | Carey Street, Holborn | 1602 Timber-Framed Tavern | Traditional lawyers' pub behind Royal Courts |
Frequently Asked Questions: Art Gifts for Legal Milestones
What is a traditional gift for someone called to the Bar or receiving Silk (KC)?
A hand-painted architectural study of their specific Inn of Court (Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple, or Gray's Inn) is a traditional and highly cherished gift. It provides a lifelong connection to the physical precinct where they trained and were called.
What paper quality is used for Freehandlines architectural prints?
All architectural illustrations are printed on museum-grade, 300gsm 100% cotton rag acid-free archival paper using pigment-based Giclée inks. This ensures the fine linework and rich watercolour washes remain vibrant and fade-resistant for generations.
Can I commission a bespoke study of a specific law firm chamber or building?
Yes. I love to do private commissions from houses to paint specific legal chambers, historic court buildings, or university law faculties so please contact me christian.coop@me.com
About the Artist Christian Coop, MSAI, is an architect and artist documenting the UK’s built heritage through one of the largest contemporary collections of architectural watercolours. With 30 years of experience an architect and a Design Director at leading global firms, his work has been featured by CNN, the BBC, and the RIBA Journal. He is currently an Associate Partner and Design Director at HTA.
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