100 years of the OLD BAILEY ( press release from the City of London )

100 years of the OLD BAILEY ( press release from the City of London )

 from THE CITY OF LONDON

27 February 2007

City of London’s Old Bailey Central Criminal Court marks 100 years

The most famous – and most unusual – criminal court in the world, the City of London’s Old Bailey, marks its 100th anniversary this year.
Built in 1907 by the City of London Corporation on the site of the notorious Newgate Gaol and officially called the Central Criminal Court, it has 18 courtrooms trying c1,500 cases year – including the most serious murders and various terrorist trials – with more than 1,200 jurors a month serving from among the general public.
This year’s centenary of the current building focuses on a special visit by Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on 27 February, underlining the unusual fact that - uniquely - the Court is co-funded and run by a “local authority” the City of London Corporation - and home to its two Sheriffs.  The building was opened by Edward VII on 27 February 1907.
The Old Bailey’s Senior Judge, His Honour Judge Peter Beaumont QC, the Recorder of London, said:
“This building has served the public well for 100 years during which the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey has established a world-wide reputation for dealing with the most difficult crimes.
“At the heart of the criminal justice system is the juror. All the judges of the Old Bailey join with me in praising those many thousands of jurors who have, over this last 100 years, served society so well by giving freely of their time to perform one of the most valuable acts any citizen can ever undertake.
“The Old Bailey is a unique partnership of judiciary, Her Majesty’s Courts Service (HMCS), police and many others but the ‘mortar’ that holds all the bricks of this institution together is the City of London Corporation whose leaders and officers have supported justice so well for centuries. ”
Lord Mayor of the City of London John Stuttard said: “The City of London Corporation is unusual in providing and maintaining a court – especially so as the Central Criminal Court plays a major role in not only London’s but also the country’s criminal justice system. The permanent presence of the Sheriffs at the Old Bailey reinforces this important link.
“The City of London is an international business district employing 350,000 in the Square Mile around St Paul’s; just yards from the new London Stock Exchange the Old Bailey stands as a constant reminder that the City takes the law seriously.
“Indeed, London’s success as the world’s leading international financial centre is underpinned by the country’s unique system of law.”
Responsibility for delivering justice effectively and efficiently to the public on behalf of HMCS rests with Central Criminal Court Manager Carole Read, who said:
“Our staff provide a first class service to the public. They deal with a wide range of sensitive and complex issues and take a great deal of pride in the service they give to all those who enter the building be they jurors, witnesses, defendants and their families or professional court users.”
Charles Henty, the City of London Corporation officer who administers the “Old Bailey” (Central Criminal Court) building and who works alongside the Judges, HMCS staff, Crown Prosecution Service, City of London Police and many other practitioners within the Building,
“My job is unique in local government and a good illustration of why the City of London Corporation is more than a local authority. Not a day goes by without me being reminded of the heavy responsibility borne by all those who work in the Old Bailey, especially the Judges and jurors. It’s no exaggeration to say that society sleeps better at night because of what happens here every day.”
The two Sheriffs of London - Alderman David Lewis (Broad Street) and Alderman Richard Regan (Farringdon Within) - reside at the Old Bailey in recognition of their 1,000-year-old role in supervising law and order. All Lord Mayors of the City of London need to be an Alderman and serve as Sheriff prior to election as ambassador for the international UK-based financial services industry.
 

Notes

The Old Bailey

The Old Bailey occupies the site of the main Roman West Gate to their ancient City of London, now called the Square Mile business district and the administrative boundary of the modern City of London Corporation. Used as a prison (like many fortified gates) it was renamed New Gate in the 12th century, holding prisoners under the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex. Replaced in 1423 by “Whit’s palace” under the terms of the famous Lord Mayor Dick Whittington’s will. A Court or Sessions House was built separately in 1539.  Both Newgate prison and the nearby Sessions House were demolished in 1902 and on the site was built the present building, designed by E W Mountford and opened by His Majesty King Edward VII in February 1907.
Until the late 18th century up to 50,000 prisoners were sent west on carts for hanging at Tyburn (at the far end of Oxford Street). From then until 1868 hangings took place in public outside Newgate itself. Newgate was famous for its disease with many – including the occasional Judge and Lord Mayor - dying of gaol fever (typhoid) and other illnesses.
In 1834 a general reform of the law established the Central Criminal Court and extended its jurisdiction to Greater London, with the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs retaining a strong role in the administration of justice. The last execution on the site took place in 1902. The current building has seven courts in the 1907 wing (including the No1 Court and the No2 Court, often used for terrorism trials) plus a further 12 Courts in the 1972 wing.

The City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation supports the financial and business City as the world's leading international financial and business centre, just 2.6 square kilometres at the heart of London around St Paul’s but the heart of the UK-based international financial services industry, with 320,000 highly-skilled knowledge workers, mostly under 30 and working for non-UK-owned firms.
Working closely with the FCO and UKTI, the City’s annually elected Lord Mayor travels the world, facilitating links between the UK-based financial services industry and fast-growing nations. In addition to the Brussels City Office funded by the City of London Corporation, others are in Beijing, Shanghai and Mumbai.
As well as providing local authority services to the Square Mile, the City of London Corporation also provides many other “extra” services to London and the UK, including running the Old Bailey, the London wholesale food markets and the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre, Hampstead Heath, the 10,000-acres green belt zone Epping Forest, the world-renowned Barbican Arts Centre and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and many other world-class facilities and services. With the Lord Mayor, it also hosts visits from world political and business leaders.