Skip to content

1388 - Origins of the Inn

The precise date of the establishment of the Inn in the premises of the Grey’s manor house is not documented. The earliest known reference to the existence of the Inn as a lodging of lawyers appears to be in 1370, when it is referred to as a “hospitium”. The first definite reference to Gray’s Inn was in 1388 when two of its Members were Called as Serjeants-at-law.

Walsingham

1530 - First Treasurer

Autumn Reader in 1530, William Walshingham was then appointed the first Treasurer of Gray’s Inn from Michaelmas in the same year. He is, however, most notable as the father of Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth’s famous, and notorious, Principal Secretary, himself admitted to Gray’s Inn in 1552.

Lord Burghley portrait

1541 - Lord Burghley

William Cecil, later Lord Burghley (1520-1598), was admitted to the Inn in 1541 and elected an Ancient 1547. Outside of the Inn, Burghley was chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572.

1588 - Armada Screen

The Armada Screen at the west end of Hall, installed in 1588, was once believed, in part at least, to contain wood salvaged from a Spanish galleon and the gift of Queen Elizabeth I (the Inn’s patron lady). The defeat of the Spanish Armada was led by the Admiral Lord Howard of Effingham, a Member of the Inn. 

1594 - Comedy of Errors

 On 28 December 1594 the first known performance of Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors” took place in Gray’s Inn Hall as part of the Inn’s Christmas festivities. 

Gold Griffin-above-student-entrance

1600 - The Griffin

Around 1595-1600 the Inn ceased to use the arms of the de Grey family and instead adopted the Griffin as its official badge.  

The Walks - trees and dappled shade

1608 - The Walks

The Inn’s gardens, known as ‘the Walks’, were laid out by Sir Francis Bacon in 1608. The Walks today remain one of the largest privately owned gardens in London. 

Sir Francis Bacon

1608 - Sir Francis Bacon

Sir Francis Bacon was admitted to the Inn in 1576, becoming a Bencher in 1586, one of the first men to do so without being elected as Reader first. He was later appointed as Treasurer in 1608, when he began the renovation of Gray’s Inn Walks, serving until 1617. 

1611 - King James’s Bible

The King James Bible is an English translation of the Bible for the Church of England, sponsored by King James VI. Of the 47 scholars involved with work on the King James Bible, 8 were connected to the Inn. 

Bradshaw Cook

1649 - The Regicides

Members John Bradshaw (1602-59; Called 1627) and John Cooke or Cook (1608-60; Called 1631) were the judge (President of the High Court of Justice) and prosecutor respectively at the trial of Charles I in 1649. 

Painting of fires

1684 - Disastrous Fires

In the late 17th Century, the Inn suffered a series of disastrous fires, which substantially depressed its fortunes, having already been weakened by the Civil War and the changes in the legal system. The most damaging was that of 1684, which destroyed several buildings, the library and the majority of the Inn’s ancient records. 

Sir John Holt

1689 - Sir John Holt

Sir John Holt (1642-1710; Called 1663) sat as Lord Chief Justice from 1689. In a time when the legal system was notoriously corrupt and inefficient, Holt was famous for his enormous integrity and fairness in judgment. He was particularly influential in ending the prosecution of witches. 

Flowers in green

1702 - Revd Adam Buddle

Revd Adam Buddle (1662-1715) was appointed Gray’s Inn Chapel Reader in 1702. Buddle was not only an impoverished clergyman but also a noted botanist, especially expert in mosses. Linnaeus named the buddleia in his honour. 

The Walks gates

1723 - Gates to the Walks

The wrought iron gates, leading into the Walks from Field Court, were erected in 1723 when William Gilbey was Treasurer. Gilbey’s initials can be seen, alongside a T for Treasurer, in the gates. The Walks today remain one of the largest privately owned gardens in London. 

Sir Samuel Romilly

1783 - Sir Samuel Romilly

Samuel Romilly (1757-1818; Called 1783) was one of the most distinguished Inn Members of the turn of the 18th century, Romilly’s reforming efforts contributed massively to his reputation. Romilly was also a vocal opponent of the Slave Trade and gave his support to William Wilberforce’s abolition campaign.  

Robert Lush

1840 - Sir Robert Lush

Sir Robert Lush (1807-81; called 1840; Treasurer 1860) was one of the few prominent Members of the Inn of the 19th century. He was known in his day for his unassuming character, sharp intellect, clarity of expression and complete lack of interest in politics.

His son Sir (Charles) Montague Lush (1853-1930) was also a distinguished Member of the Inn.

Robert Lush is now particularly remembered now as one of the judges in the Tichborne Case of 1873-74. The eccentric Dr Kenealy, the claimant’s defence counsel, who by the end of the trial was disgraced and shortly afterwards disbarred, was also until then a Bencher of the Inn.

Lord Atkin

1891 - Lord Atkin

James Richard Atkin (1867-1944), later Lord Atkin, was Called to the Bar in 1891 and served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1928 till his death in 1944. Atkin is known for the landmark ‘Snail in a Bottle’ case which established the modern law of negligence in the UK, and the rest of the world. 

Sepia photo of restored Chapel

1893 - Chapel Restoration

The Inn’s Chapel was restored in a late Gothic style in 1893, which it remained until it was destroyed during World War II. 

Bust of Birkenhead

1899 - Lord Birkenhead

F E Smith (1872-1930; Called 1899), later Lord Birkenhead, was equally well-known for his successful career at the Bar and his subsequent political career. 

Bust of Churchill in sunlight from bay window in Hall

1918 - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt first met in 1918 at a dinner in Gray’s Inn Hall, both were later elected Honorary Benchers of the Inn during World War II. A bust of Churchill is located in Hall. 

Edith Hesling in robe and

1920 - Women Admitted

After much campaigning and the introduction of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act in 1919 allowed women to be admitted to the Inns of Court. On 27 January 1920, Mary Selina Share Jones became the first woman admitted to Gray’s Inn. Edith Hesling went on to be the first woman Called to the Bar at Gray’s on 13 June 1923. 

Portrait on easel of Dr B. R. Ambedkar

1922 - Dr B. R. Ambedkar

Dr B. R. Ambedkar (Called: 1922) was a crusader for social justice and the chief architect of India’s Constitution which secured social and fundamental legal rights and equality for its citizens. A Barrister, economist, politician and reformer, he was the first Law and Justice Minister of independent India. 

1941 - The Blitz

The Inn suffered extensive damage during the Blitz, particularly during the raid of 10/11 May 1941. Fortunately, the stained windows in both Hall and Chapel had been removed and stored away for safe keeping, as had the Treasurers’ panels, the portraits, rare books, manuscripts and archives. The 16th-century ‘Armada Screen’ was also removed from Hall. 

A black and white photograph of Frances Claudia Wright in wig and gown

1941 - Frances Claudia Wright

Frances Claudia Wright (Called: 1941) was the first Sierra Leonean woman to be Called to the Bar in 1941. She was also the first Black woman Called by Gray’s Inn and the second Black woman to be Called to the Bar of England and Wales. 

1945 - Essi Matilda Christian

Essi Matilda Christian (Called: 1945) was the third Black woman called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1945, and the first Ghanaian female lawyer.  Christian, later Mrs Forster, was the daughter of George James Christian (Called 1902), an early Black barrister of Gray’s Inn. 

Colour portrait photograph of Dame Joyanne Bracewell

1955 - Dame Joyanne Bracewell

Called to the Bar in 1955 and an eminent champion of family law, Dame Joyanne Bracewell was the High Court judge responsible for drafting, and then overseeing the implementation of the Children Act, a significant piece of reforming legislation. 

Black and white photo of HRH Queen Elizabeth

1956 - Gesta Grayorum

The “Gesta Grayorum” entertainment was performed in Hall in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 13 November 1956. The entertainment was based on the installation of the Prince of Purpoole during the Christmas revels of 1594, and the “Masque of Proteus” performed before Queen Elizabeth I at Shrovetide 1595. 

Black and white photo of Benedicto Kiwanuka in wig and robes

1956 - Benedicto Kiwanuka

Called to the Inn in 1956, Benedicto Kiwanuka was the first Chief Justice of Uganda who was a native Ugandan. He also went on to become the first Prime Minister of Uganda (while it was not yet fully independent). 

A black and white portrait photograph of Lord Bingham

1959 - Lord Bingham

Lord Bingham was Called to the Bar in 1959, he went on to hold the roles of: Master of the Rolls 1992-96, Lord Chief Justice 1996-2000 and President of the Supreme Court 1996-2010. A champion of judicial independence and the Rule of Law and heralded as one of the greatest lawyers of our time.  

1960 - Post-War Reconstruction

On 11 May 1960 the rebuilt Chapel was re-dedicated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev Geoffrey Fisher, thus ending the Inn’s post-war reconstruction. Of the non-residential buildings, the Hall had been reopened on 5 December 1951 by HRH the Duke of Gloucester and the Library was reopened on 15 December 1958 by Prime Minister Harold MacMillan. 

A portrait photograph of Dr Anthony Roberts in wig and robes

1969 - John Anthony Roberts

John Anthony Roberts originally joined the RAF where he qualified as an accountant before plying his trade in Law. Called to the Bar in 1969, was one of the first Black barristers to become a QC at the Bar of England and Wales in 1988. 

A portrait photograph of Lady Hale in the gardens

1969 - Lady Hale

Educated at a state school in Yorkshire, Brenda Hale joined Gray’s Inn and was Called to the Bar in 1969. She was later appointed Professor of Law at Manchester in 1986, to Queen’s Counsel in 1989, and Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and Baroness Hale of Richmond in 2004. Later in 2017, Lady Hale became the first woman President of the Supreme Court. 

A photograph pf Lord Thomas in the gardens

1969 - Lord Thomas

Lord Thomas was Called to the Bar in 1969 and appointed Queen’s Council in 1984. He later went on to become President of the Queen’s Bench Division and Lord Chief Justice. Sir John Thomas was the most senior judge on the three-man panel that in 2016 ruled the Government could not trigger Article 50 without the authority of Parliament.  

Portrait photo of Sir Terence Etherton in the gardens

1974 - Sir Terence Etherton

Sir Terence Etherton (Called: 1974) is the Master of the Rolls and Head of Civil Justice, the second most senior judge in England and Wales. Etherton is also Britain’s first openly gay senior judge, he has been praised for “enlightened thinking” on many sensitive and vital areas of the Law. 

A photograph of Dame Nicola Davies

1976 - Dame Nicola Davies

Called in 1976, Dame Davis specialises in medical cases, including the Bristol Heart Surgeons Inquiry in 1998, Dame Nicola Davies was appointed High Court judge in 2010, Court of Appeal judge in 2018 and was the first Welsh woman judge in the Court of Appeal. 

Portrait photo of Dame Linda Dobbs

1981 - Dame Linda Dobbs

Dame Linda Dobbs, Called in 1981 and a Bencher of the Inn, was the first Black senior judge of England and Wales (High Court Judge 2004-2013).   

Rose Heilbron

1985 - Rose Heilbron

Dame Rose Heilbron (Called 1939) was a woman of many first, the first woman to lead a murder case, first woman records, first woman judge to sit in the Old Bailey and the Inn’s first female Treasurer when appointed in 1985. 

A photograph of Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb

1989 - Dame Bobbie Cheema-Grubb

The Hon. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb is a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales and the first Asian woman to serve as a High Court judge. 

Picture of the Chapel window showing the pre-war bridge

2011 - New Bridge

The new bridge connecting Hall and 10 South Square was completed and opened to Members, including The Bridge Bar, providing a relaxed setting for Members to enjoy food and drinks within.

2022 - City of London, School

In 2022, the City of London School opened a junior school at Gray’s Inn. 

2022 - Visit by King Charles III

In November 2022, King Charles III visited Gray’s Inn where he met students, barristers and Benchers. His Majesty was made a Royal Bencher of the Inn in 1975 and his portrait sits in the Small Pension Room. 

Let us know your feedback

"*" indicates required fields

WeeklyMonthlyYearlyThis is my first visit
YesNoJust browsing
StudentPupilBarristerBencherOther
Not at all likelyUnlikelyNeutralLikelyVery likely