Barnard's Inn

Barnard's Inn

On the south side of Holborn at No. 22 in Farringdon Ward Without (P.O. Directory).

An Inn of Chancery, attached to Gray's Inn.

Extra parochial.

First mention: "Macworth lane" or "Barnardes Inn," 32 H. VI. 1454 (Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1452–61, p. 145).

There is a long account of the Inn in N. and Q. 7th Series.

It appears from an Inquisition taken after the death of John Macworth, Dean of Lincoln, 1422–51, that licence was granted to his executor to demise a messuage in Holborn called "Macworth's lane" to the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln for pious uses, and it is described as the property of the Dean and Chapter of St. Mary's Cathedral, Lincoln, in the Patent Roll temp. H. VI. quoted above.

At this time it was leased to one Lionel Bernard, by whose name it came to be known (Harl MS. 1104).

The messuage seems to have been used as an Inn of Chancery soon after this date, for it appears from the records in Lincoln Cathedral that the Dean and Chapter received a yearly rent in respect of the premises from the principal of the Inn, a term which suggests that it was occupied by students for some purpose or other.

At any rate in 1549 the society was fully established, with principal, antients and students, etc.

In temp. Q. Elizabeth some of the students were residents, while some only kept the terms and resided in the country.

The old hall was originally constructed of timber, like the old manor houses of Cheshire and Shropshire, and may well have been in existence in the 15th century. The first definite reference to it occurs in 1566, when mention is made of the bow window in it. No trace of the old hall remains.

The property remained in the hands of the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln until 1888, when the freehold was purchased by Mr. Bartle L. Frere, the Chapter having refused to renew the lease to the Inn (N. and Q. 7th S. II. and III.).

The Inn consisted of about a dozen houses and the hall is the smallest of the Inns of Chancery Halls.

Purchased by the Mercers' Company 1892 and rebuilt for their school, the hall being retained as the dining-hall of the school.

Barnard's, or Bernard's-Inn, Holborn, is situated on the south side of Holborn, westward of Fetter-lane, and near Dyer's-buildings. It was anciently called Mackworth's-inn, having been the residence of Dr. John Mackworth, who was dean of Lincoln in the reign of Henry VI.; but being afterwards in possession of a gentleman of the name of Barnard, it received his name. It was given to the society by Dr. Mackworth's executors in 1454. This is one of the inns of the court of Chancery, and consists of a principal and three ancients, besides other members, who are compelled to be in common a fortnight in two terms, and ten days in the other two.

Barnard's Inn, on the south side of Holborn, opposite Furnival's Inn, an Inn of Chancery appertaining to Gray's Inn. It forms a narrow passage and small quadrangle of about a dozen houses, having the entrance between Nos. 22 and 23 Holborn. The Hall is a little red brick structure, the smallest of all the Inns of Court halls, being only 36 feet by 22, but has an oak roof and heraldic glass in the windows. The portraits—Lord Bacon, Lord Burghley, Chief-Justice Holt, and one or two more—which adorned the walls, have been presented to the National Portrait Gallery.

Barnard's Inne, called also formerly Mackworth's Inne, was in the time of King Henry the Sixth a messuage belonging to Dr. John Mackworth, Dean of Lincoln, and being in the occupation of one Barnard, at the time of the conversion thereof into an Inne of Chauncery, it beareth Barnard's name still to this day. The arms of this house are those of Mackworth, viz. party per pale, indented ermine and sables, a cheveron, gules, fretted or.—Sir George Buc, ed. Howes, 1631, p. 1075; and see Inquis. Post Mortem, vol. iv. p. 261.

In October 1737 Hayley took an airy set of chambers in Barnard's Inn, "a cheap, pleasant, and useful residence in town for literary purposes."² At No. 2 lived Peter Woulfe, the alchemist, and gave breakfast parties at four o'clock in the morning. Barnard's Inn has long ceased to have more than a nominal connection with Gray's Inn, the houses being let out as chambers, and not occupied by students of the law. Recently (1888) the whole has been advertised for sale. William Coke, Justice Common Pleas (d. 1563), Richard Harper, Justice Common Pleas (d. 1577), Sir Thomas Walmesley, Justice Common Pleas (d. 1612), Edmund Reeve, Justice Common Pleas (d. 1647), Sir Francis Bacon, Justice K.B. (d. 1657), were originally members of this Inn.

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¹ Ned Ward's London Spy, ed. 1753, p. 164.
² Life, vol. i. p. 355.