Lincoln's Inn Gateway, ca.1876

From: A.& J. Bool

RA Collection: Art

" Lincoln's Inn takes its name from Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, who in the thirteenth century built here his "inn" or "house", as we should now say, on the site of a house of Black Friars. "This Lincoln's Inn," says Stow (p.164) "....is now an Inn of Court, retaining the name of Lincoln's Inn as afore, but now lately increased with fair buildings....In the reign of Henry VIII. Sir Thomas Lovell was a great builder there; especially he built the gatehouse of one front towards the east, placing thereon as well the Lacies' Arms as his own". The Gate House shown in the photograph is that spoken of by Stow. The date, 1518, can be read below the arms. The Gate Houses of Lincoln's Inn, Lambeth Palace, the Priory of St. John's, Clerkenwell, and St. James's Palace, are the only specimens of ancient Gate Houses remaining in London. When this photograph was taken it was understood that it had been resolved to remove the Gate House of Lincoln's Inn, but there is reason to believe that the intention is for the present abandoned.

The above description, written by Alfred Marks in 1881, was taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs.