Editing Inner Temple (section)

==History==

===The Knights Templar and the founding of the Inner Temple===
The history of the Inner Temple begins in the early years of the reign of [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] (1154–1189), when the contingent of [[Knights Templar]] in London moved from the Old Temple in [[Holborn]] to a new location on the banks of the [[River Thames]], stretching from [[Fleet Street]] to what is now [[Essex House (London)|Essex House]].<ref>Pearce (1848) p.213</ref> The original Temple covered much of what is now the northern part of [[Chancery Lane]] (originally New Street), which the Knights created to provide access to their new buildings. The old Temple eventually became the London palace of the Bishop of Lincoln. After the Reformation it became the home of the [[Earl of Southampton]], and the location is now named Southampton Buildings. The first group of lawyers came to live here during the 13th century, although as legal advisers to the Knights rather than as a society. The Knights fell out of favour, and the order was dissolved in 1312, with the land seized by the king and later granted to the [[Knights Hospitaller]]. The Hospitallers probably did not live on the property, but rather used it as a source of revenue through rent.<ref name=hist1>{{cite web |url=http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/temple-history/inner-temple-history-introduction-part-1.htm |title=Inner Temple History – Introduction – Part I |last=Baker |first=John |publisher=Inner Temple |access-date=8 November 2009}}</ref>
The secular, common law lawyers migrated to the hamlet of [[Holborn]], as it was easy to get to the law courts at [[Westminster Hall]] and was just outside the City.<ref name=watt1>Watt (1928) p.133</ref>

Two groups occupied the Hospitaller land, and became known as the "inner inn" (occupying the consecrated buildings near the centre of the Temple) and the "middle inn" (occupying the unconsecrated buildings between the "inner inn" and the [[Outer Temple]]). These became the Inner Temple and the [[Middle Temple]], and were distinct societies by 1388, when they are mentioned in a [[Year Books|year book]].<ref name=hist1/> The Hospitallers leased the land to the Inner Temple for £10 a year, with students coming from [[Thavie's Inn]] to study there.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.214</ref>

===Early years===
[[File:Jean Froissart, Chroniques, 154v, 12148 btv1b8438605hf336, crop.jpg|thumb|An image from the [[Peasants' Revolt]] of 1381, during which the Inner Temple was largely destroyed]]
There are few records of the Inner Temple from the 14th and 15th centuries—indeed, from all the societies, although Lincoln's Inn's records stretch back to 1422. The Temple was sacked by [[Wat Tyler]] and his rebels during the [[Peasants' Revolt]] in 1381, with buildings pulled down and records destroyed.<ref>Bellot, p. 118</ref> [[John Stow]] wrote that, after breaking into [[Fleet Prison]], the rebels:

<blockquote>went to the Temple to destroy it, and plucked down the houses, tooke off the tyles of the other buildings left; went to the churche, tooke out all the bookes and remembrances that were m the hatches of the prentices of the law, carried them into the high street, and there burnt them. This house they spoyled for wrathe they bare to the prior of St. John's, unto whom it belonged, and, after a number of them had sacked this Temple, what with labour and what with wine being overcome, they lay down under the walls and housing,, and were slain like swyne, one of them killing another for old grudge and hatred, and others also made quick dispatch of them. A number of them that burnt the Temple went from thence to the Savoy, destroying in their way all the houses that belonged to the Hospital of St. John.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.217</ref></blockquote>
[[John Baker (legal historian)|John Baker]] thinks that the inhabitants took the opportunity to rebuild much of the Temple, and that this was when the Temple's Hall was built, since it contained 14th century roofing that would not have been available to the Knights Templar.<ref name=hist1/> The Inns of Court were similarly attacked in [[Jack Cade]]'s rebellion, although there are no specific records showing damage to the Inner Temple.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.218</ref>

The Hospitallers' properties were confiscated and given to [[Henry VIII]] by a statute of 1539/40. The Benchers of the Inn then attorned to the crown and were tenants until 1608. Following a Scotsman's request to purchase the land, the Inner and Middle Temples appealed to [[James VI and I|James I]], who granted the land to a group of noted lawyers and [[Bencher]]s, including Henry Montague and Sir [[Julius Caesar (judge)|Julius Caesar]], and to "their heirs and assignees for ever" on the condition that the Inner and Middle Temples each paid him £10 a year.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.219</ref>

===Elizabethan age===
The Elizabethan age saw a large amount of rebuilding and beautification within the Temple, and with over 100 sets of chambers it was the second largest Inn (after [[Gray's Inn]]), with 155 residential students reported in 1574.<ref name=hist1/>

In winter 1561, the Inner Temple was the scene of an extraordinary set of [[revels]] that celebrated the raising of [[Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester|Robert Dudley]] as the Temple's "Christmas Prince", a role he was granted in gratitude for his intervention in a dispute with the [[Middle Temple]] over [[Lyon's Inn]], one of the [[Inns of Chancery]] that had historically been tied to the Inner Temple. Dudley's influence swayed [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth]] into asking [[Nicholas Bacon (courtier)|Nicholas Bacon]] to rule in favour of the Inner Temple, and in gratitude the Parliament and Governors swore never to take a case against Dudley and to offer him their legal services whenever required.<ref name="Axton 1970 p.365">Axton (1970) p.365</ref>

This pledge was always honoured, and in 1576 the Inner Temple Parliament referred to Dudley as the "chief governor of this House".<ref name="Axton 1970 p.365"/> The play was partially documented by [[Gerard Legh]] in his ''Accedens of Armory'', a book of heraldry woodcuts, which described Dudley's role as Prince Pallaphilos, the lieutenant of [[Athena]] and Patron of the Order of the Pegasus.<ref>Axton (1970) p.368</ref>

===Seventeenth century===
[[File:Charles II of England.jpeg|thumb|right|[[Charles II of England|Charles II]], whom the Inner Templars welcomed back to London after the [[English Restoration]]]]
The Inner Temple continued to expand during the reigns of [[James VI and I|James I]] and [[Charles I of England|Charles I]], with 1,700 students admitted to the Inn between 1600 and 1640.<ref name=hist1/> The outbreak of the [[First English Civil War]] led to a complete suspension of legal education,<ref name="Fletcher 1901 p. xliv"/> with the Inns almost shut down for nearly four years; the Inns "suffered a mortal collapse".<ref name=hist1/> Nothing was done to adapt the old system of legal education, which was declining anyway, to the new climate of internal war.<ref>Holdsworth (1921) p. 207</ref> After the end of the Civil War, the old system was not restored; Readers refused to read and both barristers and Benchers refused to follow the internal regulations.<ref>Holdsworth (1921) p. 208</ref> The last reading at Inner Temple was made in 1678.<ref name=hist1/>

Following the [[English Restoration]], the Inner Temple welcomed [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] back to London with a lavish banquet on 15 August 1661. The banquet was hosted by Sir [[Heneage Finch (speaker)|Heneage Finch]], the [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]] and was attended by the King, four Dukes including the [[James II of England|Duke of York]], fourteen Earls of England, Scotland and Ireland, 6 Lords and the [[Chief Justice of the Common Pleas]].<ref>Pearce (1848) p.234</ref> The group proceeded from [[Whitehall]] on the King's barge, landed at the Temple and walked through the Temple Garden surrounded by all the Benchers, barristers and servants of the Temple, fifty of whom brought a lavish feast for the revellers. At the start of the next legal term, two Dukes including the Duke of York, two Earls and two Lords were admitted as members, and the Duke of York was [[called to the Bar]] and made an honorary Bencher.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.235</ref>

During the rule of the [[House of Stuart]], much was done by the [[Court of Star Chamber]] to enforce religious edicts against Catholicism within the Inner Temple. An order was sent directly to the Benchers proclaiming that no "pson eyther convented or suspected for papistrye shulde be called eyther to the benche or to the barre", and at the same time Benchers were selected specifically because of their Protestant beliefs, with popular and successful Catholics held back.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.232</ref>

This period also features an example of the independent standing of the Temple; in 1668 the Lord Mayor of London attempted to enter the Temple with his sword, something that was his right in the City but not permitted within the Temple. The students took his sword and forced him to spend the night in a set of chambers; when he escaped and tried to return, they called the [[Trained Bands]].<ref>Pearce (1848) p.236</ref> The Mayor complained to the King, who heard the case on 7 April 1669 and decided to allow it to be determined by law rather than by his royal privilege; the lawyers returned to the principle that the Temple could set its own internal rules on the right to carry swords.<ref>Pearce (1848) p.237</ref>
[[File:John Selden, Tracts Written by John Selden of the Inner-Temple, Esquire (1st ed, 1683, title page).jpg|thumb|Tracts (1683) by [[John Selden]], distinguished Inner Temple jurist]]
Much of the Inn was destroyed in the [[Great Fire of London]] in 1666, and extensive damage was done in other fires in 1677 and 1678.<ref>Bellot (1902), pp. 59, 100, 298–299, 302, 324</ref> One of these fires destroyed Caesar's Buildings, on Middle Temple Lane where Lamb Buildings now stand, and the site was purchased by Middle Temple from Inner Temple, which needed the proceeds to repair or rebuild other buildings.<ref>Bellot (1902), p. 304</ref>

===Eighteenth century to the present===
[[File:Samuel Ireland - Inner Temple - B1977.14.9481 - Yale Center for British Art.jpg|thumb|Inner Temple(1800) by [[Samuel Ireland]]]]
[[File:The Paper Buildings, Inner Temple, London - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|The Paper Buildings, Inner Temple (c 1725) artist unknown]]
[[File:Inner Temple Lane MET DP845350 ff.jpg|thumb|Sketch by Charles A. Platt 1883 of Middle Temple Lane (Inner Temple buildings on the right).]]
The 18th century was a period of relative stability, with an element of decline. The Benchers of the time were described as "opposed to all modern fashions, including new-fangled comforts", with the Inn's buildings deteriorating.<ref name="hist2">{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemplelibrary.org.uk/temple-history/inner-temple-history-introduction-part-2.htm|title=Inner Temple History – Introduction – Part 2|last=Baker|first=John|publisher=Inner Temple|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref>
Much of the Temple was rebuilt during the 19th century, most noticeably the Hall and Library, although fever and disease continued as a result of the Inn's outdated systems; the same water was used both for drinking and for flushing the toilet, for example.<ref>''British Medical Journal'' (1994) p.74</ref> 

In 1922 the Temple called [[Ivy Williams]] to the bar, making her the first female barrister in England and Wales.<ref name="hist2"/> The Temple suffered massively during [[The Blitz]] in the Second World War, including attacks on 19 September and 26 September 1940, which destroyed the Library clocktower and the Hall respectively; on 10–11 May 1941 the Inn was hit by a series of incendiaries which destroyed the inside of Temple Church, the Hall, the Library and many sets of chambers. Fires continued to burn for another day, despite the assistance of the [[Fire Brigade]] and several barristers and employees.<ref name="Rider">{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemple.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=30|title=Phoenix from the Ashes: The Post-War Reconstruction of the Inner Temple|last=Rider|first=Clare|publisher=Inner Temple|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref>

It was decided not to start rebuilding until after the cessation of hostilities, and plans began in 1944, when the Temple contacted the [[War Damage Commission]] to provide the £1.5 million to cover the damage. £1.4 million was provided, with the rest found elsewhere.<ref name="Rider"/> There was a further delay due to the Temple's choice of architect, [[Hubert Worthington]], who was so slow that the Benchers ended up replacing him with his junior associate, T.W. Sutcliffe, and eventually [[Edward Maufe|Sir Edward Maufe]]. The chambers were the priority, with parts of [[King's Bench Walk]] finished in 1949,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemple.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=30&limitstart=1|title=Phoenix from the Ashes: The Post-War Reconstruction of the Inner Temple – 2|last=Rider|first=Clare|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref> and the final building (the Library) was opened on 21 April 1958.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.innertemple.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=35&Itemid=30&limitstart=2|title=Phoenix from the Ashes: The Post-War Reconstruction of the Inner Temple – 3|last=Rider|first=Clare|access-date=24 November 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Richard Wilson (1713-1714-1782) - The Inner Temple after the Fire of 4 January 1737 - N02984 - National Gallery.jpg|thumb|The Inner Temple after the Fire of 4 January 1737 by [[Richard Wilson (painter)|Richard Wilson]] (1714–1782), National Gallery.]]
[[File:Herbert Railton - The Inner Temple Library.jpg|thumb|The Inner Temple Library circa 1895 by [[Herbert Railton]] (1857–1910).]]
[[File:Old and New London, vol. 1 - p 175.png|thumb|Part of the Inner Temple, printed in ''Old and New London vol 1'' by [[George Walter Thornbury]] (1828–1876)]]
[[File:Room in Inner Temple Gate-house, 1899 by Philip Norman.jpg|thumb|Room in Inner Temple Gate-house 1899 by [[Philip Norman (artist)|Philip Norman]] (1842–1931).]]
In 2001 the Inner Temple bought the neighbouring 1–2 [[Serjeant's Inn]], which can be accessed directly from the Inner Temple, with the intention of converting it to barristers' chambers. However, instead, the premises has been let on a 99-year lease to Apex Hotels.<ref>[http://www.isarchitects.co.uk/page.php?id=60 Ian Springford Architects] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017075031/http://www.isarchitects.co.uk/page.php?id=60 |date=17 October 2015 }} 1–2 Serjeant's Inn</ref> No. 3 Serjeant's Inn has been a barristers' chambers, occupying commercial premises, since 1986.<ref>[http://www.3serjeantsinn.com/chambers/history_of_serjeants_inn 3 Serjeant's Inn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919225958/http://www.3serjeantsinn.com/chambers/history_of_serjeants_inn |date=19 September 2010 }} History</ref> Mitre Court, which connects the Inner Temple area, Serjeant's Inn and Fleet Street, is occupied as barristers' chambers, residential flats and more recently, solicitors.