Gray's Inn facts for kids
Gray's Inn is one of four special places in London called Inns of Court. These Inns are like professional clubs for barristers and judges. To become a barrister (a type of lawyer who speaks in court) in England and Wales, you must be a member of one of these Inns. Gray's Inn is located in Central London, where High Holborn and Gray's Inn Road meet. It's a professional group that offers offices and homes for barristers.
A group called "Pension" runs Gray's Inn. This group is made up of senior members called "Masters of the Bench" (or "benchers"). The leader is the Treasurer, who serves for one year. Gray's Inn is famous for its lovely gardens, known as the "Walks," which have been there since at least 1597.
Gray's Inn doesn't have an exact founding date, just like the other Inns. Legal students and their teachers have been on this site since at least 1370. The Inn grew a lot in the 1400s and 1500s, especially when Queen Elizabeth I was in charge. Many important lawyers and politicians, like Francis Bacon, were members. Queen Elizabeth herself supported the Inn. Because of people like William Cecil, Gray's Inn became the largest Inn, with over 200 barristers. During this time, the Inn held plays and parties. It's believed that William Shakespeare's play The Comedy of Errors was first performed here.
The Inn continued to do well under King James I and the start of King Charles I's rule. More than 100 students joined each year. However, the First English Civil War in 1642 stopped legal education. Gray's Inn never fully recovered its former size. Today, Gray's Inn is the smallest of the four Inns of Court.
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| Gray's Inn Hall | |
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| Badge of Gray's Inn | |
| Motto | Integra Lex Aequi Custos Rectique Magistra Non Habet Affectus Sed Causas Gubernat |
| Motto in English | Impartial justice, guardian of equity, mistress of the law, without fear or favour rules men's causes aright |
| Type | Inn of Court |
| Location | Holborn, London, England |
| Founded | c. 1370 |
| Website | Official website: http://www.graysinn.org.uk |
Contents
What Does Gray's Inn Do?
Gray's Inn and the other three Inns of Court are the only groups allowed to officially "call" a barrister. This means they give lawyers permission to practice law in England and Wales. In the past, the Inn also taught and disciplined its members. Now, these jobs are shared. The Bar Standards Board handles discipline, and the Inns of Court and Bar Educational Trust provides education.
Gray's Inn is still a self-governing group for its members. It offers a library, dining areas, homes, and offices for barristers. It also has a chapel. Barristers from other Inns can use some of these facilities too.
A Look at Gray's Inn's History
In the 1100s and early 1200s, church leaders taught law in the City of London. But then, two big changes happened. First, the Pope said church leaders couldn't teach common law anymore. Second, King Henry III of England ordered that no law schools could be in the City of London. So, laymen (people who weren't church leaders) started teaching law. These lawyers moved to Holborn, just outside the city, close to the law courts at Westminster Hall.
How Gray's Inn Started
The early records for all four Inns of Court are missing. So, no one knows exactly when each one began. Gray's Inn's own records only start in 1569. We know Gray's Inn existed by at least 1370. It got its name from the first Baron Grey de Wilton. The Inn was originally his family's large house (or "inn") in the Manor of Portpoole.
Lawyers rented parts of the house for living and working. Their students also lived with them. This led to the tradition of eating meals together in the main hall. Records from 1437 show that Gray's Inn was already home to a "society" of members.
Over the years, the land changed hands several times. In 1506, the Grey family sold the Inn. Eventually, in 1516, it was given to a religious house called the Carthusian House of Jesus of Bethlehem. This group owned the Inn until 1539. Then, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the King took ownership of the Inn.
The Golden Age of Elizabeth I
Gray's Inn became very important during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. This period is called the Inn's "golden age," with Elizabeth as its special supporter. This was thanks to people like Nicholas Bacon and William Cecil. They were important members of the Inn and close to the Queen. They worked hard to find the best young men to join the Inn. By 1574, Gray's Inn was the largest of all the Inns, with 120 barristers. By 1619, it had over 200 members.
Gray's Inn, along with the other Inns, became known for its parties and festivals. Students performed plays for the Queen and held regular celebrations. At Christmas, students even took over the Inn for a day. They appointed a "Lord of Misrule" called the Prince of Purpoole and put on their own plays.
One famous play, The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare, was performed at Gray's Inn in 1594. It was such a lively event that it became known as the Night of Errors.
Becoming a barrister at Gray's Inn took about 12 to 14 years. Students first studied at a university or a special legal school called an Inns of Chancery. After that, they joined an Inn of Court as an "inner barrister." They would study privately and take part in practice court sessions called "moots." After six to nine years, they could be "called to the Bar" and become an "utter barrister." These new barristers then helped teach younger students. After five years, they could practice in court.
During this time, legal education at the Inn greatly improved. Regular lectures and moots helped students become skilled lawyers.
Many famous lawyers, judges, and politicians were members. This included Francis Bacon, who was Treasurer for eight years. He made big improvements to the Inn's buildings and gardens.
Challenges and Changes
Gray's Inn continued to do well when King Charles I became king. Over 100 students joined each year. The Inn still held grand parties, including one in 1634 that cost a lot of money. Many important people, including dukes and earls, were members.
However, some experts believe that teaching standards at all the Inns started to decline. This was partly because printed law books became available. Students didn't feel they needed to attend lectures as much. Also, the teachers (Benchers and Readers) didn't always make students attend.
The First English Civil War in 1642 completely stopped legal education. Only a few students joined during the war, and no one became a barrister. After the war, attempts to restart the old teaching system failed. The traditional way of legal education died out.
Gray's Inn became less wealthy during this time. After the English Restoration, fewer students joined.
From the 1700s to Today
Gray's Inn's numbers continued to drop after the English Restoration. By 1719, only 22 students joined each year. This was partly because wealthy families stopped sending their sons to the Inn if they didn't plan to become barristers.
In 1733, the rules for becoming a barrister were changed. Students with a university degree could be called to the Bar after three years. Others could be called after five years. There was an effort to improve teaching, but it didn't last long.
The 1700s were not a very successful time for the Inn. Few famous lawyers were members. However, in 1780, a court case confirmed that the Inns of Court were the only groups that could call students to the Bar.
In the 1800s, the Inns didn't change much. In 1852, the Council of Legal Education was created. In 1872, a formal exam was introduced for becoming a barrister. Gray's Inn struggled more than others, and many barristers moved to different Inns.
In the early 1900s, Gray's Inn was the smallest Inn. It was here, in 1918, that Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, who would later lead the Western Allies in World War II, first met.
After a law change in 1919, women could join the Inns of Court. The first three women joined Gray's Inn in 1920. Edith Hesling became the first woman called to the Bar at Gray's Inn on June 13, 1923.
During World War II, the Inn was badly damaged in 1941 during the Blitz. The Hall, chapel, library, and other buildings were almost destroyed. Rebuilding took until 1960. In 2008, Gray's Inn started appointing "fellows," who are elected businesspeople and legal experts.
How Gray's Inn is Organized
Gray's Inn's records from 1569 show four types of members: those not yet called to the Bar, Utter Barristers (called but still studying), Ancients (practicing barristers), and Readers (practicing barristers who taught students). Gray's Inn was unique because other Inns didn't have "Ancients."
The Inn is run by "Pension," its main governing body. This name is special to Gray's Inn. Pension is made up of the Masters of the Bench. The Inn's leader is the Treasurer, a senior Bencher. The Treasurer is elected for a one-year term.
Readers and Benchers
A Reader was a person chosen to give a "reading" or lecture on a legal topic. Two Readers were elected each year. In the early days, Readers were the main governing body of Gray's Inn. However, the English Civil War ended legal education at the Inns. The role of Readers declined, and the position of Benchers became more important.
A Bencher, also called a Master of the Bench, is a member of Pension. The name originally came from those who sat on the benches in the main hall. The role of Bencher grew in the 1500s. At first, they had special rights but no say in Pension meetings. Over time, they gained more power.
After the Civil War, Benchers took over from the Readers as the heads of the Inn. Today, there are over 300 Benchers at Gray's Inn. Most are senior barristers and judges. Famous Benchers include Francis Bacon and Winston Churchill (who was an Honorary Bencher).
The Gray's Inn Badge
Gray's Inn doesn't have a traditional coat of arms. Instead, it uses a special heraldic badge. This badge shows a gold griffin (a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle) on a black background. The Inn used to use a version of the Grey family's coat of arms. But around the 1590s, it changed to the griffin. No one knows exactly why, but it might have come from the arms of a Treasurer named Richard Aungier.
The Inn's motto is in Latin: Integra Lex Aequi Custos Rectique Magistra Non Habet Affectus Sed Causas Gubernat. This means 'Impartial justice, guardian of equity, mistress of the law, without fear or favour rules men's causes aright'. The Inn's official seal has the badge surrounded by this motto.
Buildings and Gardens
Gray's Inn is located where High Holborn and Gray's Inn Road meet. It started as one large house with a hall and chapel. Over the years, more buildings were added. By 1586, there were several wings around a central courtyard. Barristers also built their own offices around the Inn.
As the Inn grew, walls were built to enclose the land for safety. In 1608, under the leadership of Francis Bacon, more improvements were made to the gardens and walls. In 1629, an architect was hired to make sure new buildings matched the old ones. This helped keep the buildings looking similar.
Many buildings were torn down and rebuilt in the late 1600s to make them more modern. There were also fights when people tried to build on the open land around the Inn. Several fires broke out in the late 1600s, destroying parts of the Inn. When rebuilt, the buildings were made of brick instead of wood to be more fire-resistant. This changed the Inn's style from old Tudor to more modern designs.
More buildings were added in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1941, the Blitz during World War II badly damaged or destroyed much of the Inn. Many buildings had to be repaired or rebuilt. Today, many buildings are rented as offices for lawyers. There are also about 60 apartments for barristers who are members of the Inn. The Inn also houses the Inns of Court School of Law, where barristers and solicitors get their training. The Inn now has two main squares, South Square and Gray's Inn Square, with the famous Walks in between.
The Great Hall
The Hall was part of the original manor house. It was rebuilt in the 1500s. The Hall is about 70 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 47 feet high. It has a special hammerbeam roof and a raised platform at one end. Here, the Benchers and important guests would sit.
The Hall also has a large carved screen at one end. Legend says Queen Elizabeth I gave this screen to the Inn. It's supposedly made from the wood of a Spanish ship captured from the Spanish Armada. The Benchers' table is also said to be a gift from Elizabeth. For a long time, the only public toast in the Inn was "to the glorious, pious and immortal memory of Queen Elizabeth."
The Hall's walls are decorated with paintings of famous members, including Nicholas Bacon and Queen Elizabeth I. During World War II, the Hall was badly damaged. The paintings and special items were saved and put back after the rebuilding. The new Hall was opened in 1951.
The Chapel
The Chapel has been part of the Inn since 1315. It was made bigger in 1625 and rebuilt in 1698 because it was falling apart. It was rebuilt again in 1893. Then, it was destroyed during the Blitz in 1941. The Chapel was rebuilt in 1960. Its original stained glass windows, which had been stored safely, were put back. The new Chapel has simple furnishings made of Canadian maple wood.
Gray's Inn has had a Chaplain since at least 1400. Today, Gray's Inn still has a Preacher for its Chapel.
The Walks (Gardens)
The Walks are the beautiful gardens within Gray's Inn. They have been there since at least 1597. Before that, the area was used for dumping waste. In 1598, a wall was built to keep out people from London.
In 1599, more trees were planted. When Francis Bacon became Treasurer in 1608, he made many improvements. He added a gate and hired gardeners. The gardens became a popular place for people to relax. One writer in 1621 called them "the pleasantest place about London."
The Walks were well-kept over the years. In 1711, the gardener was told not to let "any women or children into the Walkes." Later, in 1718, he was allowed to remove them if found. In the late 1700s, the Walks were called "the best gardens of any of the Inns of Court." Today, the Walks are recognized as a historically important garden.
The Library
The Library at Gray's Inn has existed since at least 1555. At first, it was a small collection of books kept in one room. The collection grew as members left books or money in their wills. The first Librarian was hired in 1646 because books were being stolen.
In 1684, a fire destroyed much of the Library's collection. A new room was then built for the Library. In the 1700s, the Library became more important. More books were bought, including the works of Francis Bacon. In 1789, the Library moved to a new room.
In 1929, a new, impressive Library called the Holker Library was opened. However, it wasn't very practical. It had lots of space but not enough shelves, and some books were too high to reach. Also, no ink-pots were allowed because the building was so grand.
This building was completely destroyed during the Blitz in World War II. Most of its books were lost, but rare old manuscripts had been moved to safety. After the war, King George VI donated many replacement books. A new Library, designed to be more practical, was opened in 1958.
Famous People from Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn has been around for over 600 years, so it has many famous members. Even though it's the smallest Inn, it has had very important lawyers and judges. These include Francis Bacon, The 1st Earl of Birkenhead, and Baroness Hale of Richmond, who was the first female Justice of the Supreme Court.
Beyond law, members have included church leaders, business people, astronomers, and media figures. Many members have also become important lawyers, judges, and government leaders in other countries. For example, B. R. Ambedkar was a main writer of the Constitution of India.
See also
In Spanish: Gray's Inn para niños
