Gray's Inn, London
One of London鈥檚 four Inns of Court鈥攖he elite clubs that train barristers to argue persuasively and wear robes like it鈥檚 no big deal鈥擥ray鈥檚 Inn is where powdered wigs, sharp tongues, and centuries of legal tradition collide! Alongside Lincoln鈥檚 Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple, Gray鈥檚 Inn has been shaping courtroom drama since well before legal thrillers were a thing.
Governed by a council called "Pension," which sounds cozy but is not鈥攖hey鈥檙e led by the Treasurer, a sort of head honcho elected yearly. The Masters of the Bench, or 鈥渂enchers,鈥� handle the serious business of keeping tradition alive while sipping tea in very old rooms. But don鈥檛 let the gravitas fool you鈥擥ray鈥檚 Inn is also known for its leafy gardens, charmingly called "the Walks," which have been delighting stressed-out law students and ambitious climbers since at least 1597.
The Inn has a long legal rap sheet of history鈥攍aw clerks have been skulking around here since 1370, and the place hit its heyday under Queen Elizabeth I, who acted as its patron. Legal legends like Francis Bacon鈥攖he English philosopher and statesman, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I鈥攐nce called it home. The Inn even flirted with theater fame: Shakespeare鈥檚 Comedy of Errors likely premiered in Gray鈥檚 Inn Hall during a particularly fancy night of masques and revels.
And here鈥檚 where things get a little Dickensian鈥攍iterally. In 1827, a young Charles Dickens began his short-lived legal career here as a junior clerk. Though he quickly realized law wasn't his jam, he did pick up shorthand鈥攁 handy trick for his later work as a reporter and novelist. Gray鈥檚 Inn even made cameo appearances in David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers, a little literary nod to the place where he almost became a barrister, but instead chose to write the books that made him a household name.
So next time you stroll past the ivy-covered buildings, remember: Gray鈥檚 Inn is where the law met literature鈥攁nd both walked away a little more dramatic.
Governed by a council called "Pension," which sounds cozy but is not鈥攖hey鈥檙e led by the Treasurer, a sort of head honcho elected yearly. The Masters of the Bench, or 鈥渂enchers,鈥� handle the serious business of keeping tradition alive while sipping tea in very old rooms. But don鈥檛 let the gravitas fool you鈥擥ray鈥檚 Inn is also known for its leafy gardens, charmingly called "the Walks," which have been delighting stressed-out law students and ambitious climbers since at least 1597.
The Inn has a long legal rap sheet of history鈥攍aw clerks have been skulking around here since 1370, and the place hit its heyday under Queen Elizabeth I, who acted as its patron. Legal legends like Francis Bacon鈥攖he English philosopher and statesman, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I鈥攐nce called it home. The Inn even flirted with theater fame: Shakespeare鈥檚 Comedy of Errors likely premiered in Gray鈥檚 Inn Hall during a particularly fancy night of masques and revels.
And here鈥檚 where things get a little Dickensian鈥攍iterally. In 1827, a young Charles Dickens began his short-lived legal career here as a junior clerk. Though he quickly realized law wasn't his jam, he did pick up shorthand鈥攁 handy trick for his later work as a reporter and novelist. Gray鈥檚 Inn even made cameo appearances in David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers, a little literary nod to the place where he almost became a barrister, but instead chose to write the books that made him a household name.
So next time you stroll past the ivy-covered buildings, remember: Gray鈥檚 Inn is where the law met literature鈥攁nd both walked away a little more dramatic.
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Gray's Inn on Map
Sight Name: Gray's Inn
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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