Staple Inn Hall, Holborn . June 2006

An arched passageway leads from the courtyard of Staple Inn through into this small fenced rose garden. Back in 1292 Staple Inn Hall was probably a covered market known as 'le Stapled Halle'. The name 'Staple Inn' was first used by lawyers and students who met here from 1415. The place was owned by the woolstaplers until around 1580 when members of the Society of Staple Inn built a new meeting hall here. The original Hall was destroyed by a flying bomb in 1944 and it wasn't until 1954 that rebuilding of this Hall began. Nowadays the Staple Inn Hall is used for functions ranging from conferences to wedding receptions. More Info on Staple Inn Hall

(1120) Posted on 6/13/2006 9:01:49 AM | Comments

1. Posted by maurits on 6/13/2006 1:03:59 AM
Nice garden or court yard... interestingly shaped tree... an Acacia maybe?
Lovely shot

2. Posted by tony on 6/13/2006 1:11:43 AM
Maurits, hi and thanks. Good to have you come by .. so soon in the day. I think you're right this is an Acacia tree. Quite a few of these trees are planted around this 'lawyers' area of London.

3. Posted by maurits on 6/13/2006 1:15:03 AM
I always enjoy your great pictures, and the stories they tell Tony.. especially on my morning round ;-]

4. Posted by Greg on 6/13/2006 1:33:03 AM
It seems so different to imagine a city with a time line of more than 2000 years. Most of our easterm cities are only 1/10 that. Looking at the image and considering the time and place. I wonder how many Acacia trees have grown huge beneath the sky, and then fallen into dust within a stones throw of this one. .-)

5. Posted by angie on 6/13/2006 8:15:38 AM
That tree is so eye catching. It really makes the whole shot for me. Very nice!

6. Posted by stewart on 6/13/2006 9:01:13 AM
It's a pity 'le Stapled Halle' was bombed in 1944 would love to see what it looked like,an interesting text as well.

7. Posted by funny on 6/13/2006 10:52:27 AM
I have the same comment in mind so, #3 I agree on
make a travel book of this this type photograph and interesting info

8. Posted by skidoo on 6/14/2006 2:36:40 PM
From this angle it reminds me very much of the University of Richmond: http://www.ur.edu/visit/virtual.htm

9. Posted by skidoo on 6/14/2006 2:38:11 PM
Or rather, I suppose that should be the other way around. lol

10. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:18:01 PM
Hi Greg, good to have you come by. From Londinium until now, it's hard to imagine that 2000 years, maybe it's easier to imagine 20 Acacia trees living and dying in this spot .. even that it is hard ;-]

11. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:20:26 PM
Hi Angie and thanks, yes, I tried to get the tree in a reasonable position to frame the scene, and maybe even lead the eye a little.

12. Posted by Pook © on 6/14/2006 3:21:16 PM
This is beautiful :)

13. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:22:44 PM
Funny .. a travel book - that sound intriguing - just need someone to organise it now!? ;-]

14. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:32:53 PM
Skidoo .. maybe they're built out of similar bricks .. I think I may have driven by Richmond University - a long time ago - I think it was in Monument or Franklin Avenue? .. and I may have been driving between New York and Washington .. memories .. failing.

15. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:33:37 PM
Pook, hi and thank you.

16. Posted by skidoo on 6/14/2006 3:38:42 PM
@Tony: I think the architectural styles seem similar. At least from this limited vantage.
The campus of the University of Richmond is one of the most beautiful in the U.S. It's not a large campus, but the directors have gone to great lengths to preserve a consistency and a commitment to a particular style as they've slowly grown over the years.
It probably wasn't UR you drove past so long ago. It's definitely off the beaten path. Monument Avenue **IS** beautiful, and one end of it does terminate near the University, but that's about a mile away. To get to UR, you have to drive through some beautiful old wooded neighborhoods.

17. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:38:53 PM
skidoo .. should have checked your link .. it's in 'Westhampton Way' .. check googlemaps .. it's near Monument Avenue!

18. Posted by skidoo on 6/14/2006 3:43:41 PM
@Tony: Yes, that's what I said. One end of Monument Avenue terminates NEAR the University of Richmond. But it's like a mile away. In order to get to UR from Monument Avenue, you gotta do it on purpose. Take lots of turns and whatnot.

19. Posted by tony on 6/14/2006 3:47:15 PM
skidoo, they should have got you to do the virtual tour pics - yours would probably have been more entertaining .. it is an amazing place though, huge. The first time I went through Richmond was in 1969 .. it's coming back - visited New York, Washington and Philadelphia on that trip. Will have some photographs on my blog one day - maybe not TA!?

20. Posted by Robert K. on 6/16/2006 8:12:55 PM
This is a really nice image Tony. Beautiful courtyard, and the tree really adds a lot to the shot!

21. Posted by tony on 6/16/2006 11:16:46 PM
Robert, hi and thanks. These beautiful Acacia trees, which originally came from North America in the early part of the 17th century, seem to have sprouted up all around this area. They have an elegant shape and small leaves which produces a wonderful dappled light on sunny summer days. If I had a garden I definitely would want one of these .. and a Japanese Maple.