The Old Bailey visit
Tuesday 13th May 2025
Visit to the Central Criminal Court, The Old Bailey, City of London, EC4M 7EH
On Tuesday 13th May, twenty members of AWC enjoyed a private visit to the Central Criminal Court of England & Wales, commonly called the Old Bailey. This was the maximum number allowed to visit the court which meant that we had to open a waiting list.
Our visit started at 6.00pm after the day’s proceedings had finished.
We were welcomed by past Sherriff Fiona Adler resplendent in court attire. Fiona explained her role as the Seconder which means she is involved with all elements of the court & she was able to give us a fascinating insight into what is probably the most famous court in the world.
We visited Number One Court which has historically been reserved for high-profile trials. The court has been the site of numerous sensational trials including the trial of suffragettes at the turn of the nineteenth century and also the trial of Dr Crippen. The layout of the Court is unique with the defendant located sideways on to the jury. The building’s 2* listing means that it cannot be upgraded to accommodate modern standards of comfort, security and layout. We were able to sit in the dock, the jury or the judge’s chairs while Fiona explained the working of the Court.
We were then taken down to the cells as they have been emptied of defendants by that time & were pretty appalled by their cramped & airless nature. We were even warned not to shut any doors as the keys to the cells would not be available until the next morning. Luckily nobody from AWC was detained overnight.
We were also taken to a modern criminal court and then to the Lower Hall & Royal Entrance.
In the splendid Grand Hall, we were shown the murals depicting historic and symbolic themes related to law and justice which were painted by Gerald Moira & we were also able to have a group photo taken with Fiona before thanking her for an informative and fascinating tour.
Following our visit, we took a short stroll to the Glean Restaurant in Black Friars Lane for a glass or two of beer or wine & a delicious supper to complete a very interesting and enjoyable evening.
