Central Criminal Court

Central Criminal Court

On the east side of the Old Bailey at the corner of Newgate Street (P.O. Directory).

On the site of Newgate Prison. Prior to the removal of the Prison, the Court stood further north on the same side of the street. The site was called "Sessions House Yard" in O. and M. 1677.

In Stow's time it was called the "Sessions hal" (S. 391), and it was rebuilt 1785–6.

Erected on the present site and opened 1905.

Justice Hall, built by the City for a Sessions House soon after the Fire (and is situate in the Old Bailey very properly so called,) because here Criminals receive the just reward of their Offences, for the Tryal of whom this is commodiously situate near Newgate, and fitted up for the Conveniency of Judges, Juries, Witnesses and Prisoners, hearing and being heard. So much of the Building; as to the Court see Sect. the 5th Oyer and Terminer.

Justice Hall, is a fair and Stately Building, very commodious for that Affair; having large Galleries on both sides or ends, for the reception of Spectators. The Court Room being advanced by Stone Steps from the Ground, with Rails and Banisters inclosed from the Yard before it. And the Bail Dock, which fronts the Court, where the Prisoners are kept until brought to their Trials, is also inclosed. Over the Court Room is a stately Dining Room, sustained by ten Stone Pillars; and over it a Platform leaded, with Rails and Banisters. There be fair Lodging Rooms, and other Conveniencies, on either side of the Court. It standeth backwards, so that it hath no Front towards the Street, only the Gateway leading into the Yard before the House, which is spacious. It cost above 6000l. the building. And in this Place the Lord Maior, Recorder, the Aldermen, and Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, do sit, and keep his Majesty's Sessions of Oyer and Terminer, for the Trial of all Malefactors, for Treason, Murder, Felonies, Burglaries, and all other Riots and Offences, committed within the City of London and County of Middlesex.

This Court or Sessions, is holden, most commonly, some Days before, and after, every one of the four Terms; also once in the time of Lent, and once in the long Vacation, about Bartholomewtide.

Upon those Days, which the Sessions are held, which commonly lasts three Days, every Morning before the Court sits, the Prisoners are brought from Newgate, the Goal for such Offenders, to this Place; where there are two Places provided for them to be kept in, until they are called to their Trials; the one is for the Men, and the other for the Women. And at Night, when the Court breaks up or adjourns to another Day, the Prisoners are returned back to Newgate, under the Conduct of the Serjeants and their Yeomen, who are the Sheriffs Officers, and take their turns to attend the Court for that purpose.

The Lord Maior is chief Judge of this Court, but assisted by the Recorder of the City, and oft times the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and some other of the Judges, upon Matters of High Treason.

Old Bailey Sessions House

I have not read how this street [Old Bailey] took that name, but it is likely to have risen of some Court of old time there kept: and I find, that in the year 1356, the 34th of Edward III., the tenement and ground upon Houndes ditch, between Ludgate on the south, and Newgate on the north, was appointed to John Cambridge, fishmonger, Chamberlain of London, whereby it seemeth that the Chamberlains of London have there kept their Courts, as now they do by the Guildhall, and till this day the Mayor and Justices of this City kept their Sessions in a part thereof, now called the Sessions Hall, both for the City of London and Shire of Middlesex.—Stow, p. 145.

Here [in the street called Old Bailey] is the "Old Bailey Sessions House," or "Central Criminal Court," regulated by 4 & 5 Will IV., c. 36.

This Justice Hall (commonly called the Sessions House) is a fair and stately building, very commodious for that affair; having large galleries on both sides or ends, for the reception of spectators. The Court Room being advanced by stone steps from the ground, with rails and banisters inclosed from the yard before it. And the Bail Dock, which fronts the Court, where the prisoners are kept until brought to their trials, is also inclosed. Over the Court Room is a stately Dining Room, sustained by ten stone pillars; and over it a platform, leaded, with rails and banisters. There be fair lodging-rooms and other conveniences on either side of the Court. It standeth backwards, so that it hath no front towards the street, only the gateway leading into the yard before the House, which is spacious. It cost above £6000 the building. And in this place the Lord Mayor, Recorder, the Aldermen and Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex do sit, and keep his Majesty's Sessions of Oyer and Terminer.—Strype, B. iii. p. 281.

    That most celebrated place,
Where angry Justice shows her awful face;
Where little villains must submit to fate,
That great ones may enjoy the world in state.
Garth's Dispensary.

The building described by Strype was destroyed in the Gordon riots of 1780. That which Dance erected in its place has been added to and greatly altered, but the dining-room still exists, and there the Judges dine when the Court is over, a practice referred to, though inaccurately, in the well-known line:—

And Wretches hang that Jurymen may dine.

[See Newgate Prison.]

At the Old Bailey the regicides were tried, and the following persons variously eminent:—William Lord Russell, the Earl of Shaftesbury, Jack Sheppard, Jonathan Wild, Savage the poet, Elizabeth Canning, Dr. Dodd, Governor Wall, Bellingham, Thistlewood, Horne Tooke, Hardy, Thelwall, Fauntleroy, etc. The last person who stood in the pillory in London was Peter James Bossy, tried for perjury, and sentenced to transportation for seven years; previous to which he was to be imprisoned for six months in Newgate, and to stand in the pillory in the Old Bailey for one hour. The pillory part of the sentence took place on June 22, 1830. Milton's books were burned by the common hangman at the Old Bailey in September 1660.

Several copies of those infamous books made by John Goodwin and John Milton in justification of the horrid murder of our late glorious sovereign King Charles the First were solemnly burnt at the Sessions House in the Old Bailey by the hand of the common hangman.—News for September 3–10, 1660, quoted in Masson's Life of Milton, vol. vi. p. 193.