New Square, Lincoln's Inn

New Square at Lincoln's Inn in London is one of the city's most complete late seventeenth-century squares, featuring brick chambers built in the 1680s and 1690s. First developed by Henry Serle in 1682 and finished by Nicholas Barbon after 1690, its complex freehold ownership required Parliament to pass the Lincoln's Inn Act of 1860. Triangular plaques above doorways still record historic construction dates and treasurers' initials.

London Β· from the walk β€œBeneath the Bar: Lincoln's Inn & Legal London” Β· audio ~3 min Β· Generated

New Square, Lincoln's Inn

New Square, Lincoln's Inn, London WC2A 3RJ

Who developed New Square at Lincoln's Inn in London during the 1680s and 1690s?

Step into New Square... and step back over three hundred years. You are standing in one of the most Complete late seventeenth century squares in all of London. These elegant brick buildings look almost exactly as they did when they were first raised in the sixteen eighties and nineties.......... But the story of how this square came to be... is a tale of rivalry, land disputes, and one of the most Notorious property developers in English history.......... It began with a man named Henry Serle, a member of Lincoln's Inn, who struck a deal with the Inn in sixteen eighty two to build on this patch of ground. Back then, this land was known as little Lincoln's Inn Fields, or Fickett's Fields, and it sat Outside the Inn's original boundaries. Serle got to work, raising eleven sets of brick chambers on three sides of the square. But boundary disputes dragged on... and Serle died in sixteen ninety before finishing the job.......... So who stepped in to complete it? None other than Nicholas Barbon... a man whose Original baptismal name was, believe it or not, "If Jesus Christ Had Not Died For Thee Thou Hadst Been Damned" Barbon. He was the son of Praise God Barebone, namesake of Barebone's Parliament. Nicholas was a physician turned property developer, a pioneer of fire insurance, and one of the most aggressive builders London had ever seen. He tore down buildings without permission, dodged creditors by getting himself elected to Parliament, and even got indicted in sixteen ninety three for blocking ancient rights of way right here during construction.......... Now, picture the square when it was brand new. No gardens, no lawns. The centre was laid with gravel, and in the middle stood a handsome column of the Corinthian order, designed after Inigo Jones, topped with a sundial and surrounded by stone lions spouting water from shells! That column was the brainchild of Cavendish Weedon, said to be the First inhabitant of New Square, who raised subscriptions from fellow members to beautify the place.......... And the ownership here is Still tangled. Because of those original disputes, some parts of this square remain freehold to this day... with individual people owning single floors or even Sections of floors within these buildings. It was so complicated that Parliament had to pass a special law, the Lincoln's Inn Act of eighteen sixty, just to let the Inn charge the various freeholders fees.......... And if you look closely at the entrances, you may spot small triangular plaques above doorways... each marked with a "T" for Treasurer, a date, and two initials recording who oversaw building works. They are like a secret signature, hiding in plain sight for over three centuries.

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