27 February 2007
City of London’s Old Bailey Central Criminal Court marks 100
years
The most famous – and most unusual – criminal court in the
world, the City of London’s Old Bailey, marks its 100th anniversary
this year.
Built in 1907 by the City of London Corporation on the site of
the notorious Newgate Gaol and officially called the Central
Criminal Court, it has 18 courtrooms trying c1,500 cases year –
including the most serious murders and various terrorist trials –
with more than 1,200 jurors a month serving from among the general
public.
This year’s centenary of the current building focuses on a
special visit by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on
27 February, underlining the unusual fact that - uniquely - the
Court is co-funded and run by a “local authority” the City of
London Corporation - and home to its two Sheriffs. The
building was opened by Edward VII on 27 February 1907.
The Old Bailey’s Senior Judge, His Honour Judge Peter Beaumont
QC, the Recorder of London, said:
“This building has served the public well for 100 years during
which the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey has established
a world-wide reputation for dealing with the most difficult
crimes.
“At the heart of the criminal justice system is the juror. All
the judges of the Old Bailey join with me in praising those many
thousands of jurors who have, over this last 100 years, served
society so well by giving freely of their time to perform one of
the most valuable acts any citizen can ever undertake.
“The Old Bailey is a unique partnership of judiciary, Her
Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS), police and many others but the
‘mortar’ that holds all the bricks of this institution together is
the City of London Corporation whose leaders and officers have
supported justice so well for centuries. ”
Lord Mayor of the City of London John Stuttard said: “The City
of London Corporation is unusual in providing and maintaining a
court – especially so as the Central Criminal Court plays a major
role in not only London’s but also the country’s criminal justice
system. The permanent presence of the Sheriffs at the Old Bailey
reinforces this important link.
“The City of London is an international business district
employing 350,000 in the Square Mile around St Paul’s; just yards
from the new London Stock Exchange the Old Bailey stands as a
constant reminder that the City takes the law seriously.
“Indeed, London’s success as the world’s leading international
financial centre is underpinned by the country’s unique system of
law.”
Responsibility for delivering justice effectively and
efficiently to the public on behalf of HMCS rests with Central
Criminal Court Manager Carole Read, who said:
“Our staff provide a first class service to the public. They
deal with a wide range of sensitive and complex issues and take a
great deal of pride in the service they give to all those who enter
the building be they jurors, witnesses, defendants and their
families or professional court users.”
Charles Henty, the City of London Corporation officer who
administers the “Old Bailey” (Central Criminal Court) building and
who works alongside the Judges, HMCS staff, Crown Prosecution
Service, City of London Police and many other practitioners within
the Building,
“My job is unique in local government and a good illustration of
why the City of London Corporation is more than a local authority.
Not a day goes by without me being reminded of the heavy
responsibility borne by all those who work in the Old Bailey,
especially the Judges and jurors. It’s no exaggeration to say that
society sleeps better at night because of what happens here every
day.”
The two Sheriffs of London - Alderman David Lewis (Broad Street)
and Alderman Richard Regan (Farringdon Within) - reside at the Old
Bailey in recognition of their 1,000-year-old role in supervising
law and order. All Lord Mayors of the City of London need to be an
Alderman and serve as Sheriff prior to election as ambassador for
the international UK-based financial services industry.
Ends
Notes for editors
The Old Bailey
The Old Bailey occupies the site of the main Roman West Gate to
their ancient City of London, now called the Square Mile business
district and the administrative boundary of the modern City of
London Corporation. Used as a prison (like many fortified gates) it
was renamed New Gate in the 12th century, holding prisoners under
the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. Replaced
in 1423 by “Whit’s palace” under the terms of the famous Lord Mayor
Dick Whittington’s will. A Court or Sessions House was built
separately in 1539. Both Newgate prison and the nearby
Sessions House were demolished in 1902 and on the site was built
the present building, designed by E W Mountford and opened by His
Majesty King Edward VII in February 1907.
Until the late 18th century up to 50,000 prisoners were sent
west on carts for hanging at Tyburn (at the far end of Oxford
Street). From then until 1868 hangings took place in public outside
Newgate itself. Newgate was famous for its disease with many –
including the occasional Judge and Lord Mayor - dying of gaol fever
(typhoid) and other illnesses.
In 1834 a general reform of the law established the Central
Criminal Court and extended its jurisdiction to Greater London,
with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs retaining a strong role in the
administration of justice. The last execution on the site took
place in 1902. The current building has seven courts in the 1907
wing (including the No1 Court and the No2 Court, often used for
terrorism trials) plus a further 12 Courts in the 1972 wing.
The City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation supports the financial and
business City as the world's leading international financial and
business centre, just 2.6 square kilometres at the heart of London
around St Paul’s but the heart of the UK-based international
financial services industry, with 320,000 highly-skilled knowledge
workers, mostly under 30 and working for non-UK-owned firms.
Working closely with the FCO and UKTI, the City’s annually elected
Lord Mayor travels the world, facilitating links between the
UK-based financial services industry and fast-growing nations. In
addition to the Brussels City Office funded by the City of London
Corporation, others are in Beijing, Shanghai and Mumbai.
As well as providing local authority services to the Square
Mile, the City of London Corporation also provides many other
“extra” services to London and the UK, including running the Old
Bailey, the London wholesale food markets and the Heathrow Animal
Reception Centre, Hampstead Heath, the 10,000-acres green belt zone
Epping Forest, the world-renowned Barbican Arts Centre and
Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and many other world-class
facilities and services. With the Lord Mayor, it also hosts visits
from world political and business leaders.
Further information:
The Old Bailey: Eight Hundred Years of Crime, Cruelty and
Corruption by Theresa Murphy, 1999
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bailey
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