New Inn

New Inn. An Inn of Chancery belonging to the Middle Temple, and situate on the N. side of Witch Str. to which place this Society removed from Sea-coal Lane (as Tradition tells us) to be for their conveniency nearer to the other Inns of Court and Chancery.

This was, before their removal hither a common Hostery or Inn known by the Sign of the Blessed Virgin, and was procured from Sir John Fineux, sometime Ld Ch. Just. of England, for the Rent of 6 l. per Ann. and they Tenants at their own will.

This Society is governed by a Treasurer and 12 Ancients; the Members are to be in Commons in their Gowns and Caps (as the other Inns) one Week in every Term, or pay if not there. They sell Chambers for one Life, and have Mooting once or twice a Term.

Their Armorial Ensigns are, Vert a Flower-pot Argent. To this Inn are pleasant Walks and Gardens, and the N. Ely part joins to Clements Inn.

New Inn. Now touching this City of Westminster, I will begin at Temple-bar, on the right Hand or North Side, and so pass up West, thro' a back Lane or Street, wherein do stand three Inns of Chancery. The First called Clement's-Inn, because it standeth near to St. Clement's Church; but nearer to the fair Fountain, called Clement's-Well. The second is New Inn, so called, as latelier made (of a common Hostery, and the Sign of our Lady) an Inn of Chancery, for Students than the other, namely, about the Beginning of the Reign of Henry VII, and not so late as some have supposed, to wit, at the pulling down of Strand Inn, in the Reign of King Edward VI. For I read, that Sir Thomas More, sometime Lord Chancellor, was a Student in this New Inn, and went from thence to Lincoln's-Inn, &c.

The third is Lyons Inn, and an Inn of Chancery also.

New Inn, contiguous to St. Clement's Inn, in Wych street, is one of the Inns of Chancery, and was founded about the year 1485, for the reception of the students of an Inn of Chancery, at the east corner of Seacoal lane.

New-Inn, Wych-Street, Drury-Lane,—a few doors on the R. from St. Clement's church in the Strand, it leads to St. Clement's Inn and Clare-market.

New Inn, The, Wych-street, adjoins Clements-inn on the west, and is, like that, one of the inns of Chancery. It was founded about 1485, for the students of an ancient inn, formerly situated at the southeast corner of Sea-coal-lane, Farringdon-street. When the Strand Inn was destroyed, with the church of St. Mary-le-Strand, and other buildings, by the Protector Somerset, to make room for his new palace of Somerset House, the students removed hither, and united themselves to the society. New-inn is an appendage to the Middle Temple, and is governed by a treasurer and twelve ancients, who, with the other members, are to be in commons a week every term, or to compound for the same.

New Inn, No. 21 Wych Street, Drury Lane, an Inn of Chancery appertaining to the Middle Temple. It is now chiefly inhabited by solicitors, and has little if any connection with the present Inn of Court. In an Act of 1605 Drury Lane is described as "The lane running from St. Giles-in-the-Fields towards the Strand and towards New Inn." Sir Thomas More was of this Inn before he removed to Lincoln's Inn. When the Seal was taken from him he talked of descending to "New Inn fare," "wherewith," he would say, "many an honest man is well contented."¹

Newe Inne was a guest Inne, the sign whereof was the picture of Our Lady, and thereupon it was also called Our Ladies Inne: it was purchased or hired by Syr John Fineux, Chiefe Justice of the King's Bench, in the raigne of King Edward the Fourth, for 6^li per annum,² to place therein those students of the Law wbo were lodged in the little Old Bailey, in a house called S. Georges Inne, neere the upper end of S. Georges Lane, but some say the going in was over against S. Sepulcher's steeple, and reputed to have beene the most andent Inne of Chancery, when it stood: but now and long since it hath been converted into tenements.—Sir George Buc (Stow, by Howes, ed. 1631, p. 1075).

The gentleman next in esteem and authority among us, is another Bachelor wbo is a member of the Inner Temple. He is an excellent Critic, and the time of the Play is his hour of business; exactly at five he passes through New Inn, crosses through Russell Court, and takes a turn at Will's till the play begins.—The Spectator, No. 2.

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¹ Roper's More by Singer, p. 52.
² Stow adds that they were "tenants at their own will; for more (as is said) cannot be gotten of them, and much less will they be put from it."—Stow p. 145.