Tour of the Old Bailey

“The law of the wise is a fountain of life”. “The welfare of the people is supreme”. These are such two of the memorable proverbs, which encircle the magnificent Grand Hall, located in the main entrance of the Central Criminal Court, more commonly known as the Old Bailey. This was where on a bright, sunny March afternoon, I and seven others in my tour group had the unique opportunity to tour this historical site and gain a brief glimpse of the day-to-day workings of one of the most famous and revered courts in the land.

The tour guide greeted our group on our arrival. She enthralled us all by detailing the history of the court, with its origins being trace back to the 14th Century. The original building was destroyed in the 1666 Fire of London but was rebuilt in 1674. In 1834 the Old Bailey was renamed the Central Criminal Court. The present building is assembled on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison.

Our visit began with us descending to the basement where in the 19th century the condemned would be led along 'Dead Man’s Walk' between Newgate prison and the court. Riotous crowds we were told would gather and pelt the condemned with rotten fruit and vegetables. Another landmark we were shown was the shard of glass, which is embedded and preserved as a reminder after The IRA exploded a car bomb outside the courts in March 1973.

We were introduced to The Recorder of London Judge Peter Beaumont QC. He gave us a captivating insight into his work and the work of the other 16 senior judges who sit in judgment at the Old Bailey. We were invited to sit in his court whilst he summed up a terrorism case. We also had the chance to view witness testimony and cross-examination in a well-publicised murder case presided over by Mr Justice Bean.

The tour guide was fascinating as well as informative. I would definitely recommend this visit to any tourist or native Briton who has any remote interest in this country's legal history.