the old bailey

I visited the Old Bailey and was told that I was not allowed to take phone, recording items, etc. into the Court.  You can leave it at a number of shops on the high street for a small charge. I left my phone, paid my money and got a ticket.  Went to listen to a case and returned at lunch time for my phone. The guy behind the desk said he had some bad news, thinking he was joking, I gave him my ticket, he said he was not joking, someone came into the shop while the staff was away from the desk and removed two iPhones from under the desk. I was shocked and speechless.

Not a problem I taught! My phone is protected with "Find My iPhone," so I activated it, but never located the phone.  Oh well, the phone was insured!  But the insurance company said that I was not, because the shop was not broken into and the phone was not kept securely.  Surely the shop must replace it! Well no. The owner said that, the shop’s insurance did not cover the phones and use legal words like “phone left at owner’s risk”.  I am so angry that they took no care of my phone and these shops are making extra income because the Old Bailey would not allow phone into the public areas.  Not all Courts have this rule.  What is the Old Bailey’s reason?

The Old Bailey, or the Central Criminal Court, got it’s name from the nearby street. The current building dates from 1902-7. Some of the walls are from the notorious Newgate Prison which stood on the site. On top of the dome stands the figure of Justice…. a representation of the Greek goddess Themis.
She is the personification of the divine law of right, which ought to control all human affairs. The sword she holds is the sword of state and the scales of justice represent balance in her decisions.

Among those tried here are William Penn, Titus Oates, Daniel Defoe, Lord George Gordon, Oscar Wilde, Dr.Crippen, J. R. Christie, Peter Sutcliff, William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw) and many others. More recently Soham murderer Ian Huntley and millionaire author and politician Jeffrey Archer .

Once upon a time the cells were riddled with disease and inmates were serviced by a stream of prostitutes. Pets and livestock were also allowed inside. Hundreds of men, women and children were deported to the United States and later Australia for petty crimes like pick pocketing.

Be good or you may see the inside as a defendant :) You can go and watch…but not in the old way please!

The area has been the scene of floggings, mutilations, pressings (if a defendant refused to plead) burnings at the stake and hangings. Up to 20 people could be hanged at a time drawing up to 100,000 spectators. A small bribe to the hangman could ensure a quick death with him pulling down on the condemned man to ensure the neck snapped without too much suffering.

Local pubs such as the Magpie and Stump would hire out rooms offering views of the executions. In 1868 public hangings were abolished due to civil unrest.

As a solicitor this is one of my regular haunts. I love the architecture of this building and it has long olde worlde corridors inside. Worth a peek if your in this part of london.

It was quite by accident that I ended up in"what is probably the most famous criminal court in the world. London's central criminal court otherwise universally known as "the Old Bailey"

Built on the location where Newgate Goal once stood, this building is impressive. the security is impressive too I was made to remove everything from my bags, pockets and pass up any bottles of liquid I may of had... In fact I think the security measures were stricter then at Heathrow.

I wasn't just going on a fluffy tour that can be arranged of this historical court... I was here to see the real deal whether I liked it really or not.

My friend I had been visiting in London was a Met Police officer who had been called in to give key evidence on a big murder case as he had been the first officer at the scene... not knowing what to do with me and needing to be in court ASAP on the Judges orders his superiors reluctantly had to allow and get me permission to sit in on the case, as they couldn"t think of what else to do with me...and they couldn't very well leave me wandering around the upper levels of the court on my own without supervision could they?

Extremely interesting, your not allowed to make a peep while sitting in on it and your phone is taken off you as well.

I found all the security very intimidating and there were more police on the level of the building we were on then civilians.

If your in here because it's your court case I'd be very worried indeed! I mean hey it's not like the good old Newgate days when with any luck you could be shipped off on a permanent holiday to Sydney Australia- (no wonder there were so many crims) Magic!!