Chancery Lane
Encyclopedia
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London
since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster
and Camden
. The route originated as a 'new lane' created by the Knights Templar
from their original 'old Temple' on the site of the present Southampton Buildings, on Holborn
, to give access to their newly acquired property to the south of Fleet Street
, ie the present Temple, sometime before 1161.
Chancery Lane connects High Holborn
at its northerly end and Temple Bar
in Fleet Street
at the south ; it gives its name to Chancery Lane tube station
which lies at the junction of Holborn
and Gray's Inn Road
, some yards from Chancery Lane's northern end.
The street is predominately occupied by the legal profession
, consulting firms and ancillary businesses. Lincoln's Inn
occupies most of the western side north of Carey Street. Chancery Lane takes its name from the historic High Court of Chancery
, which started its association with the area when the Bishop of Lincoln acquired the 'old Temple' in 1161. In later centuries the Court convened in Lincoln's Inn Old Hall and other buildings there for the Court's purposes, such as the important Six Clerks’ Office. On the eastern side of the street, below Breams Buildings, was the Master of the Rolls
precincts where he resided and kept the records. From 1852 the site was developed into the Public Record Office
('PRO'), the present Grade II* listed, Gothic Revival
which removed to Kew as the National Archive. In 1996 this became The Maughan Library
of King's College London
.
The Patent Office was originally situated off Southampton Buildings and some of the minor side streets also are named after their associations with now defunct legal practices, eg Rolls Buildings and Cursitor Alley. Just to the south of the old PRO is an Old Serjeants Inn.
The principal building of the Law Society of England and Wales
, the professional body for solicitors, is at 113. Ede and Ravenscroft
, the oldest tailors in London, have their main (and historic) outlet and offices at 93, which is also their outlet for legal dress. The London Silver Vaults
are located at the northern end of the Lane.
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
and Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
. The route originated as a 'new lane' created by the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
from their original 'old Temple' on the site of the present Southampton Buildings, on Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, to give access to their newly acquired property to the south of Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, ie the present Temple, sometime before 1161.
Chancery Lane connects High Holborn
High Holborn
High Holborn is a road in Holborn in central London, England. It starts in the west near St Giles Circus, then goes east, past the Kingsway and Southampton Row, and continues east. The road becomes Holborn at the junction with Gray's Inn Road....
at its northerly end and Temple Bar
Temple Bar, London
Temple Bar is the barrier marking the westernmost extent of the City of London on the road to Westminster, where Fleet Street becomes the Strand...
in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
at the south ; it gives its name to Chancery Lane tube station
Chancery Lane tube station
Chancery Lane is a London Underground station in central London. It is on the Central Line between St. Paul's and Holborn stations. The station is located at the junction of High Holborn, Hatton Garden and Gray's Inn Road with subway entrances giving access to the ticket office under the roadway...
which lies at the junction of Holborn
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
and Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road
Gray's Inn Road, formerly Gray's Inn Lane, is a major road in central London, in the London Borough of Camden. It is named after Gray's Inn, one of the main Inns of Court. The road starts in Holborn, near Chancery Lane tube station and the boundaries of the City of London and the London Borough...
, some yards from Chancery Lane's northern end.
The street is predominately occupied by the legal profession
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, consulting firms and ancillary businesses. Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
occupies most of the western side north of Carey Street. Chancery Lane takes its name from the historic High Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
, which started its association with the area when the Bishop of Lincoln acquired the 'old Temple' in 1161. In later centuries the Court convened in Lincoln's Inn Old Hall and other buildings there for the Court's purposes, such as the important Six Clerks’ Office. On the eastern side of the street, below Breams Buildings, was the Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
precincts where he resided and kept the records. From 1852 the site was developed into the Public Record Office
Public Record Office
The Public Record Office of the United Kingdom is one of the three organisations that make up the National Archives...
('PRO'), the present Grade II* listed, Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
which removed to Kew as the National Archive. In 1996 this became The Maughan Library
The Maughan Library
The Maughan Library and Information Services Centre is a 19th-century neo-Gothic building located on Chancery Lane in the City of London. Since 2001 it has been in use as the main library of King's College London...
of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
.
The Patent Office was originally situated off Southampton Buildings and some of the minor side streets also are named after their associations with now defunct legal practices, eg Rolls Buildings and Cursitor Alley. Just to the south of the old PRO is an Old Serjeants Inn.
The principal building of the Law Society of England and Wales
Law Society of England and Wales
The Law Society is the professional association that represents the solicitors' profession in England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors as well as serving as a sounding board for law reform. Members of the Society are often consulted when important...
, the professional body for solicitors, is at 113. Ede and Ravenscroft
Ede and Ravenscroft
Ede & Ravenscroft are the oldest tailors in London, established in 1689. They have three London premises, on Gracechurch Street, Chancery Lane and Burlington Gardens, very close to the famous Savile Row...
, the oldest tailors in London, have their main (and historic) outlet and offices at 93, which is also their outlet for legal dress. The London Silver Vaults
London Silver Vaults
The London Silver Vaults opened as The Chancery Lane Safe Deposit in 1876. Originally renting out strong rooms to hold household silver, jewellery and documents, it transitioned to housing silver dealers in secure premises a few years later. It is located on Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1QS...
are located at the northern end of the Lane.