InfoBritain

 

Old Bailey, London

The latest incarnation of the Old Bailey Crown Court is built on the former site of Newgate prison. Newgate had existed since the twelfth century, as a place of incarceration and execution. Dickens came here to view executions, and mentioned the prison in a number of his novels, including Barnaby Rudge and Great Expectations. The crowds that gathered to watch executions were huge, sometimes 20,000 strong. Pubs which overlooked the area would rent out rooms. Public executions were eventually stopped in 1868, not because of objection to capital punishment, but because of civil disorder. Newgate continued to be used as a prison up until 1902 when it was demolished. The present building housing the Old Bailey Crown Court was built in its place, opened by Edward the Seventh. The court had been located next to Newgate since 1673.

Crime has its own long and complex history, and the type of crime that society picks out for special attention reflects much about the nature of society. In the nineteenth century, that time of ruthless entrepreneurial spirit it was virtually a crime to be poor. But attitudes can change dramatically, allowing former crimes to become virtues. Oscar Wilde, for example, was famously tried in 1895 at the Old Bailey for the crime of homosexuality, then classified as gross indecency. Today there are laws in place to protect people from discrimination based on their sexuality, and the treatment that Wilde received might itself be a crime. Oscar Wilde once wrote: "Personality is a mysterious thing. A man cannot always be estimated by what he does. He may keep the law and yet be worthless. He may break the law and yet be fine. He may be bad without ever doing anything bad. He may commit a sin against society, and yet realise through that sin his own perfection." (Quoted in Oscar Wilde by Robert Ellmann P 265)

The Old Bailey is open to visitors who wish to use the public galleries to view trials in session.

Opening Times: Monday to Friday, 10am - 1pm and 2pm - 5pm. Closed on Bank Holiday Mondays and the Tuesday after. There is reduced sitting in August. Large groups should call beforehand to check seating space available. No public gallery seating can be reserved.

Directions: The Old Bailey is in Old Bailey, close to St Paul's Cathedral. The nearest Underground station is St Paul's.

Access: Please note that no bags, food, drink, cameras, mobile phones, are allowed in the building, and there are no facilities for the safekeeping of personal items. No children under 14. Disabled access is possible.

Contact:

telephone: 020 7248 3277