Bid to win a unique opportunity to have a guided tour of the historic Old Bailey courthouse in London with esteemed Barrister, Jonathan Caplan.
Jonathan Caplan's clients include companies around the world, high profile individuals, television companies, newspapers and government agencies. Caplan will take you on a special insiders tour of this historic site, located 200 yards from St. Paul's Cathedral.
The Old Bailey courthouse was rebuilt several times between 1674 and 1913, and was originally intended as the site where only criminals accused of crimes committed in the City and Middlesex were tried. However, in 1856, there was public revulsion at the accusations against the doctor William Palmer that he was a poisoner and murderer. This led to fears that he could not receive a fair trial in his native Staffordshire. The Central Criminal Court Act 1856 was passed to enable his trial to be held at the Old Bailey. In the 19th century, the Old Bailey was a courtroom adjacent to Newgate Prison. Hangings were a public spectacle in the street outside until May 1868. The condemned would be led along Dead Man's Walk between the prison and the court, and many were buried in the walk itself. Large, riotous crowds would gather and pelt the condemned with rotten fruit and vegetables and stones. After 28 people were crushed to death when a pie-seller's stall overturned, a secret tunnel was created between the prison and St Sepulchre's church opposite, to allow the chaplain to minister to the condemned man without having to force his way through the crowds.\ The present Old Bailey was designed by E. W. Mountford and built on the site of the infamous Newgate Prison, which was demolished to allow the court buildings to be constructed. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition: "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". King Edward VII opened the courthouse. On the dome above the court stands a gilt bronze statue of Lady Justice, executed by the British sculptor F. W. Pomeroy in 1905–1906. She holds a sword in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice, but the figure is not blindfolded: the courthouse brochures explain that this is because Lady Justice was originally not blindfolded, and because her "maidenly form" is supposed to guarantee her impartiality which renders the blindfold redundant. Don't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get a real insider's look at this historic treasure.