The 'Old Bailey' is the nick name for the Central Criminal Court of London.
This new Court was built on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison at the
turn of the century (I think 1903). Of course Newgate prison (active from
the 12th century) has earned its reputation through history for the inhuman
conditions incarcerated prisoners were subjected to. Newgate road runs
adjacent to the site of the old prison and the new Court house. I don't
know which came first, Newgate Road or Newgate prison, but in an attempt
to expunge past references to Newgate prison the Court house has been call
the 'Old Bailey' in reference to the Bailey 'road' (really an alleyway)
which runs adjacent to Newgate road.
So speak'th my Frodo's guide to London.
Michael Grey
73 TR6 (in storage)
At 12:25 PM 6/20/99 +1000, Trevor Jordan wrote:
>
>It is "Bailey", as in the Old Bailey. Does anyone know the origin of that
>name?
>
>Trevor Jordan
>74 TR6 CF29281U
|