By Trish Swain
The Swan Bottom Ladies and Friends Culture Club (SBLFCC) ventured forth on their third outing on Friday 5th October. After last year’s exceedingly wet visit to Kew Gardens, it was decided to try an indoor location this time. So on a gloriously sunny, golden October day we travelled to The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and enjoyed an enthralling tour of some of the highlights of this hidden gem.
The Inn dates back to 1422 with detailed records contained in the ‘Black Books’. The Inn is run on a collegiate system with a Library (think Harry Potter), an Old Hall (which was superseded by a larger Great Hall in the 1840s) used, then
and now, for dining and
education purposes, a Chapel and Chambers. The Great Hall has a remarkable
fresco of figures relating to Justice and was painted over a period of seven
years by Frederic Watts. It was the cause of some acrimonious correspondence
between Mr Watts and the Inn, happily resolved upon completion and payment,
which included an engraved silver cup which was left to the Inn on his death.The most famous preacher in the chapel was John Donne, at that time unknown as a poet; his only memorial is a tiny piece of stained glass in a large window. The chapel windows contain the coats of arms of all the Treasurers since 1680. The Treasurer is the leader of the Inn and holds the post for one year and has to combine this prestigious but demanding role with his/her working life.
The Inn is situated in 11 acres and has fabulous gardens (and the smallest listed building in London, an ostler’s post) and is much in demand for filming, especially costume dramas. We saw it in its autumn glory; the plane trees were particularly noteworthy.
We ended our visit with a delicious lunch in the Great Hall.
Many thanks to all who attended and to Frankie Little for all her efforts.