THE INNER TEMPLE - HISTORICAL RECORDS

ARCHIVES
The Inner Temple archives document the history of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, one of the four London based Inns of Court. Dating from 1505, they include records relating to the admission, education and call to the bar of members; the management of the inn by the Treasurer and council of benchers, known as the inn's Parliament, with its committees and sub-committees; the day to day administration of the inn and its property by the Sub-Treasurer and his staff; and the conduct of events taking place within the inn.

The Inn also holds a number of records relating to the Temple Church, which is jointly owned and administered by the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple. The archives reflect the long and varied history of the inn and its continuing role in legal education and the regulation of the upper branch of the legal profession.

ARCHIVE CATALOGUE
Please click here for a summary of the archive catalogue.

The archives are described in more detail in a Handlist of the Inner Temple Archives (1992) which is available in the Inner Temple Library and at the National Register of Archives and in the Inner Temple Archives Catalogue (2002) available in the Inner Temple Archives.

TRANSCRIPTS
The Acts of Parliament, Bench Table Orders and early financial accounts have been transcribed and edited up to and including 1835 in A Calendar of Inner Temple Records 1505-1835 volumes I-VIII (vols. I-III edited by F A Inderwick, London, 1896-1901; vols. IV-V 1714-1800 edited by R A Roberts, London, 1933-36; vols. VI-VIII 1801-35 edited by B Given, London, 1992).

INNER TEMPLE ADMISSIONS DATABASE (1547-1850)
Please click here for the database of past members sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

FAMOUS MEMBERS
Please click here for a list of famous members of the Inner Temple

HISTORICAL ARTICLES
The following articles by archivist Dr Clare Rider can also be read on this site. All the articles were first published in the Inner Temple Yearbook. Click the relevant headline for more details:

• William Cowper of the Inner Temple
• Charles and Mary Lamb in the Inner Temple
• Lost in the Past : The Rediscovered Archives of Clifford's Inn
• Lord Robert Dudley, 'chief patron and defender' of the Inner Temple
• The "Unfortunate Marriage" of Seretse Khama
• Gorboduc, or the Tragedy of Ferrex and Porrox
• "Phoenix from the ashes: the post-war reconstruction of the Inner Temple
• The Inns of Court & Inns of Chancery and their Records
• The admission of overseas students to the Inner Temple in the 19th century

ACCESS TO THE ARCHIVES
The Inner Temple archives are available for consultation by members of the public (on Thursdays and Fridays only) by prior appointment. Researchers wishing to enquire about or to consult the archives should write to:

Dr Clare Rider
Archivist
Treasury Office
Inner Temple
London EC4Y 7HL

E-mail: crider@innertemple.org.uk
Tel: 020 7797 8251
Fax: 020 7797 8178

INNER TEMPLE LIBRARY MANUSCRIPTS
The Inner Temple Library also holds manuscripts and archive material in a separate Manuscript Collection, which is described on the Inner Temple Library website.

Back to top of page