How many courtrooms in the old bailey

The golden statue of Justice on top of the dome, not as usual blindfolded, but holding her sword and scales, was by F. Pomeroy, who also did the figures of the hooded recording angel flanked by Fortitude and Truth above the main entrance.

The building is officially the Central Criminal Court, but is almost always known as the Old Bailey, which is the name of the street and comes from a rampart, or bailey, constructed just outside the wall of the City in Norman times.

The original Sessions House for London criminal cases was built in , at Newgate so that prisoners could be brought to it easily. The accused was placed as far away from the judges on the opposite side of the courtroom as possible, so much so that a mirror and a sounding board were installed to allow them to see and hear him clearly. The Greek goddess Themis presides over the Old Bailey. She personifies divine law. THE Old Bailey has been a sink of human misery for hundreds of years.

Up to 20 people could be hanged at a time, attracting up to , spectators. Local pubs, such as the Magpie and Stump, would hire out rooms offering views of the scene. But in public hangings were abolished due to civil unrest. The prison itself was riddled with disease and inmates were serviced by a stream of prostitutes. Visit us in Kew to see original documents or view online records for free.

Consider paying for research. This guide will help you to find records of trials held at the Old Bailey since , as well as records of the prisoners and convicts tried and held there. Reborn as the Central Criminal Court in , the courthouse has nevertheless continued to be known popularly as the Old Bailey. Most pre records are held in other archives, most significantly at the London Metropolitan Archives.

However, The National Archives does hold some pre records. For trials of crimes committed in London south of the Thames before you need to look at the records of assize courts for Surrey. Records from the last 20 to 30 years are not held at The National Archives.

For these records contact the Ministry of Justice. See their advice on Freedom of Information requests. Under the Central Criminal Court Act of , the court could also hear cases outside its ordinary jurisdiction to ensure a fair trial where local prejudice existed or where, due to its frequent sessions, it could offer an early trial and so avoid the delay in waiting for the next assizes.

To this day, criminal cases from other parts of England and Wales are occasionally dealt with by the court. When crown courts replaced assize courts in the title Central Criminal Court was retained for the crown court sitting in London. Trials for people accused of felonies serious crimes and the more serious cases of misdemeanors crimes less serious than felonies were and still are held at the court. This included the following crimes:. The most detailed records you are likely to find for any trial are known as proceedings or sometimes sessions papers.

They provide summaries of trials and what was said in court. They vary in length and detail, from reports of a few dozen words to detailed transcripts. The first published account of trials held at the Old Bailey dates from and from to accounts of trials were regularly published. These published proceedings were produced for public consumption.

Published proceedings ceased in by which time they had become largely redundant in the face of newspaper reports of trials. The original proceedings are held at a variety of libraries and not at The National Archives but they are available to search and view online at the Old Bailey Proceedings Online website.

The Chadwyck Healey microfiche collection of British Trials which also includes a few trials from is available in The National Archives reading rooms and in some major libraries. These unofficial contemporary accounts of trials were originally published as pamphlets and sold to the general public. Cameras, large bags rucksacks , recording equipment, mobile phones, smart watches, sharp objects pen knives and nail scissors , food and drink and writing materials are also banned from the Court.

The x-ray machines will pick up items and you will then be asked to leave the premises. Mobiles, cameras etc are regarded as a security risk. The Court has no facilities where such items can be left. A nearby travel agents will look after property for a small fee. As a result, we do urge that luggage is kept to a bare minimum, and if you are coming by coach or minibus, we advise you leave as much there as possible.

We do not accept responsibility for loss or theft of property. Visitors to the public galleries are requested to dress appropriately no vests or shorts for men; no low-cut tops or short skirts for women or entry to the court building may be refused. Smart casual dress is advised. Please note: We cannot be held responsible for last-minute changes to the court lists. On some occasions, barristers are not prepared on the day and cases are delayed or postponed.

Therefore, cases are sometimes transferred from another courthouse to fill the empty court.