Great Hall Lincoln's Inn

Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court for barristers in England.

Its exact date of founding is obscure, but is named after the 3rd Earl of Lincoln who set up lawyers in Holborn after institutes of legal education were expelled from the City of London in the 13th Century.

This picture is of the Great Hall which was opened in 1845 by Queen Victoria. Although Victorian in date it is very much in the tradition of college great halls modelled on the dining halls of great houses in the Tudor period.

English institutions are nothing is not traditional.

As well as calling new barristers to the Bar, it is used for all sorts of lectures, concerts and functions. Every year I attend the Airline Business Awards which are held here - see the remarkable coat of arms from earlier this month on blipfoto.