Middle Temple - Hall, ca.1885

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"Middle Temple Hall (No.102), one of the finest works of the Renaissance in England, was built between 1562 and 1572; the date 1570 appears in the window shown in the photograph. This date destroys the tradition that the screen was built from the spoils of the Spanish Armada, which put to sea only several years later. In addition to its beauty, the Hall has a great claim on our interest, in that the first record we have of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is contained in an entry in the diary of a student of the Middle Temple of a performance of this play in this Hall:- "Feb. 2 , 1601 (1601-1602). At our feast we had a play called 'Twelfth Night or What you Will,' much like the 'Comedy of Errors;' or Menechmi in 'Plautus;' but more like and neere to that in Italian, called 'Igganni.' A good practise in it to make the steward believe his lady widdowe was in love with him, by counterfayting a letter from his lady, in generall termes, telling him what she liked best in him, and prescribing his gesture in smiling, his apparaille, &c.; and then when he came to practise, making him believe they took him to be mad." (Collier's Shakespeare, III., 317, quoted in Cunningham's Handbook.) In illustration of these "feats" or revels held in the Inns of Court, Cunningham mentions that in taking up the floor of this Hall about 1764, nearly 100 pairs of small dice were found, that had fallen through the chinks in the floor. The marble bust seen in the picture represents Plowden, who was Treasurer of the Inn when the present Hall was built."

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