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Gray's Inn is one of London's
four Inns of Court, the other three are Lincoln's
Inn, the Inner
Temple and the Middle Temple.
The four Inns, or Honourable
Societies of Barristers, fulfill the same functions but has
its separate traditions. According to ancient custom
anyone training to be a barrister in Britain must join one
of the Inns of Court and dine there 24 times, as well as passing
their examinations, before being officially qualified.
The quiet alleys and open spaces
of the Inns of Court are a haven from the noisy traffic and
fumes of London, like stepping back in time. Here, lawyers,
dressed in gowns and wigs, pass against the backdrop of medieval
buildings and well-manicured lawns.
Gray's Inn was the last Inn to
be founded, in 1569. Shakespeare's play 'A Comedy of
Errors' was first performed in Gray's Inn Hall in 1594.
The hall's superb 16th century screen, said to be made from
the wood of a galley from the Spanish Armada, has survived
in tact. In 1827 - 28 Charles Dickens was employed here
as a clerk. During World War II Gray's Inn, like many
buildings in this area, suffered serious damage. However,
much of it has been rebuilt. The garden at Gray's Inn,
once a convenient site for staging duels, is now a island
of peace for lunchtime strollers.
Admission free
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