Looking at some literary figures of the eighteenth century and their associations with the Inn, from Richard Brinsley Sheridan's youthful romantic adventures to Oliver Goldsmith's embarassment over his chambers, and including a poem by a young William Blackstone.
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The 450 years since Middle Temple Hall was completed have seen many instances of unruly conduct, rule-breaking, bad manners and even violence taking place under its impressive double hammerbeam roof. This month we look back at this varied history of misbehaviour, from sartorial faux-pas to sword-fighting.
Looking at archival records which tell the (often dramatic) stories of the Inn's porters and watchmen, and exploring their personalities, heroism and misdemeanours, by way of noisy policemen, plundering soldiers and the Great Plague of London.
Before the emergence of the two societies of the Temple, these lands were occupied by the Knights Templar, an order of religious knights that had been founded in Jerusalem in 1119-20 in order to defend the routes of pilgrimage to that holy city. Receiving official papal recognition in 1139, they quickly spread across Europe and the Holy Land, accumulating power, authority, responsibility and land.
Having escaped the Great Fire of London, the majority of the Middle Temple’s buildings were destroyed by another fire thirteen years later. This edition looks at events during the night of the inferno and the rebuilding of the Inn in its aftermath.
Examining the troubled tenure of Dr Paul Micklethwaite and his various disputes with the Temple – social, financial, and religious – which resulted in adjudication by King Charles I.
The mid-19th century saw the Inn opening its safety and security arrangements to the City’s newly formed public police force. This edition explores this transition, rather unforeseen for many, and the context around that change.
This month we delve into the rich history of music at the Temple by exploring the story of the choir and organ of Temple Church.
KC Silks Day at Middle Temple
Middle Temple is pleased to announce that 28 members were appointed King's Counsel on Friday 23 December 2022. The Appointment Ceremony took place on March 27 at Westminster Hall.
These appointments are made by His Majesty The King on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, Dominic Raab MP, following consideration by the independent King’s Counsel Selection Panel.
The list of Middle Templars is as follows:
Katherine Apps
Richard Baker
John Brinsmead-Stockham
Paul Buckingham
Adam Cloherty
Neil Davy
Ruth den Besten
Siddharth Dhar
Marcos Dracos
Edward Grieves
James Horne
Maria Karaiskos
Ben Lask
Eleena Misra
Anna Morris
Craig Morrison
Helen Mulholland
Judith Murray
Sheryn Omeri
Fiona Paterson
Edward Peters
Catherine Piercy
David Pliener
Akua Reindorf
Nicola Shannon
Henry F Smith
Nicholas Worsley
Duran Seddon