Also known as the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey is the most iconic courthouse in the world. It is part of the Crown Court and hosts major criminal cases from London and often from greater England and Wales. The existence of the court can be traced back to medieval times. The first building was destroyed in the Fire of London and was rebuilt a decade later. This original building had an open design to prevent spread of diseases, which were common in those times.
The current building was constructed in 1902 and was designed by E. W. Mountford, the famous English architect known for his Edwardian Baroque style. During the Second World War, the building was heavily targeted by the Blitz. Reconstruction work was carried out in the 1950s and the court was opened to the public again.
The interior of the main hall is decorated with artwork commemorating the Blitz and several scenes of St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are also statues of British monarchs and important legal figures. The lower level of the court includes a small exhibition about the history of the Old Bailey court and the Newgate prison that originally stood at the site.
The original entrance of the courts is now only used for royalty and the Lord Mayor. The general entrance is near the South Block, which is just the next building.
Like other court houses, the Old Bailey is open to the public. There are no entry charges. Visitors can attend any of the trials from the public galleries after a security check. Children below 14 years of age are not allowed in the viewing galleries. Please proceed inside the court house to look around.
In Sherlock, the famous trial of Jim Moriarty was conducted at the Old Bailey. The crucial trial sees Moriarty being tried for breaking into the Tower of London, opening the Bank of England’s Vault and unlocking Pentonville Prison. Although the exterior of the Old Bailey court was used, the interior shots were filmed at separate locations. The courtroom scenes were filmed in Swansea Guildhall and the holding cells were actually from Roath Police Station in Cardiff.
The current building was constructed in 1902 and was designed by E. W. Mountford, the famous English architect known for his Edwardian Baroque style. During the Second World War, the building was heavily targeted by the Blitz. Reconstruction work was carried out in the 1950s and the court was opened to the public again.
The interior of the main hall is decorated with artwork commemorating the Blitz and several scenes of St. Paul’s Cathedral. There are also statues of British monarchs and important legal figures. The lower level of the court includes a small exhibition about the history of the Old Bailey court and the Newgate prison that originally stood at the site.
The original entrance of the courts is now only used for royalty and the Lord Mayor. The general entrance is near the South Block, which is just the next building.
Like other court houses, the Old Bailey is open to the public. There are no entry charges. Visitors can attend any of the trials from the public galleries after a security check. Children below 14 years of age are not allowed in the viewing galleries. Please proceed inside the court house to look around.
In Sherlock, the famous trial of Jim Moriarty was conducted at the Old Bailey. The crucial trial sees Moriarty being tried for breaking into the Tower of London, opening the Bank of England’s Vault and unlocking Pentonville Prison. Although the exterior of the Old Bailey court was used, the interior shots were filmed at separate locations. The courtroom scenes were filmed in Swansea Guildhall and the holding cells were actually from Roath Police Station in Cardiff.
