Page 147 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

HOLBORN AND THE INNS OF C OUR T  145

u St Etheldreda’s
Church
14 Ely Place EC1. Map 6 E5. Tel 020
7405 1061. 1 Farringdon. Open
8am–5pm Mon–Sat, 8am– 12:30pm
Sun. = 51pm Mon–Fri, 9am &
11am Sun. ∑ stetheldreda.com
Built in 1290, this rare survivor is
the oldest Catholic church in
England. First the town chapel
of the Bishops of Ely, who lived in
the since demolished Ely House,
the church passed through
various hands over the centuries,
including those of Sir Christopher
Hatton, an Elizabethan courtier,
who built Hatton House in the
grounds and used the church
crypt as a tavern. Rebuilt and
restored several times, the church
has some stunning stained-
glass windows.

i Hatton Garden
EC1. Map 6 E5. 1 Chancery Lane,
Farringdon.
Staple Inn, a survivor from 1586
Named for Sir Christopher
Hatton (see above), Hatton p London Silver with antique and modern silver-
Garden is the centre of London’s Vaults ware. The best examples sell for
diamond and jewellery many thousands of pounds but
district. Millions of pounds 53–64 Chancery Lane WC2. Map 14 D1. most shops also offer modest
change hands daily in scores Tel 020 7242 3844. 1 Chancery pieces at realistic prices.
of small shops with sparkling Lane, Holborn. Open 9am–5:30pm
window displays. Mon–Fri, 9am–1pm Sat.
∑ silvervaultslondon.com
Running parallel to Hatton a Gray’s Inn
Garden is Leather Lane, which These silver vaults originate from Gray’s Inn Rd WC1. Map 6 D5.
has a week-day market (10am– the Chancery Lane Safe Deposit Tel 020 7458 7800. 1 Chancery
2pm Mon–Fri). The varied stalls Company, established in the late Lane, Holborn. Grounds
sell a little of everything. 19th century. After descending a Open noon–2:30pm Mon–Fri. 7
staircase you pass through steel - ∑ graysinn.org.uk
security doors and reach a nest
o Staple Inn of underground shops sparkling This ancient legal centre and
law school dates to the 14th
Holborn WC1. Map 14 E1.
1 Chancery Lane. century though it was largely
rebuilt after damage inflicted
This building was once the during World War II. At least one
wool staple, where wool was of Shakespeare’s plays (A
weighed and taxed. The Comedy of Errors) was first
frontage over looks Holborn performed in Gray’s Inn hall
and is the only real example in 1594. The hall’s 16th-century
of Elizabethan half-timbering interior screen still survives.
left in central London. Although The young Charles Dickens
now much restored, it would was employed as a clerk here
still be recog nizable by in 1827–8. The garden, known
someone who had known it as “the Walks” and once a
in 1586, when it was built. The convenient site for staging
shops at street level have the duels, is open to lunchtime
feel of the 19th century, and strollers for part of the year.
there are some 18th- century The buildings may be visited
buildings in the courtyard. Coffee pot (1716): Silver Vaults only by prior arrangement.

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