Undercroft of Lincoln's Inn Chapel
Undercroft of Lincoln's Inn Chapel. The chapel stands on pillars over an ''undercroft'' at ground level, much used in the past as an ambulatory. Until the middle of the 19th century burials of distinguished members of the Inn sometimes took place there. William Prynne (1600-1669) and John Thurloe (1616-1668) rest beneath the chapel they worshipped in. With its carved pillars and ceiling, the undercroft has not surprisingly attracted the attention of film producers, as those who saw Tom Jones may remember. It was in the undercroft, as well as elsewhere in the Inn, that in past centuries, distracted mothers sometimes left their babies, secure in the knowledge that the Inn would see that the children were well brought up. They were usually given the surname “Lincoln”, and in due time apprenticed or given a dowry on marriage. he first mention of a chapel in Lincoln's Inn comes from 1428. By the 17th century, this had become too small, and discussions started about building a new one in 1608. The current chapel was built between 1620 and 1623 by Inigo Jones, and was extensively rebuilt in 1797 and again in 1883. Other repairs took place in 1685, after the consultation of Christopher Wren, and again in 1915. The chapel is built on a fan-vaulted, open undercroft and has acted (sometimes simultaneously) as a crypt, meeting place and place of recreation. For many years only Benchers were allowed to be buried in the Crypt, with the last one being interred on 15 May 1852. Before that, however, it was open to any member or servant of the society; in 1829 a former Preacher was interred, and in 1780 William Turner, described as "Hatch-keeper and Washpot to this Honble. Society", was buried. The chapel has a bell said to date from 1596, although this is not considered likely. Traditionally, the bell would chime a curfew at 9 pm, with a stroke for each year of the current Treasurer's age. The bell would also chime between 12:30 and 1:00 pm when a Bencher had died.
Size: 3360px × 5050px
Location: Lincoln's Inn Chapel, off Chancery Lane, near Holborn, London Borough of Camden, England, UK
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: architecture, benchers, chapel, christianity, crypt, fan-vaulted, historic, inigo, inn, jones, lincolns, meeting, oid, open, place, recreation, religion, undercrof, undercroft
