Tour of the Inns of Court
On Saturday 15th May 21, 2010 Members and wives met our tour guide Manuela Sowter at the Embankment tube station at 11am.
We first met Manuela when she was a guest speaker at a Probus lunch last year. Read more here
We set off from the embankment with a casual stroll through the beautiful embankment gardens, stopping at frequent intervals in order that Manuela could explain the changing history of the last centuries and pointing out many of the important statues and buildings.
Amongst those buildings were Somerset House and the Savoy Hotel. She pointed out how significantly the level of the Thames has fallen over the centuries.
Continuing along the embankment we arrived at the Inner Temple at approx. 12 noon. Manuela explained that were unable to see inside the Great Hall or the Church as they are closed at weekends, but she explained at great detail the history of the Inner and Middle Temple. We were able to have view inside the Church as there was wedding about to take place, which added a little extra interest to our visit.
The tour finished at 1.30 pm and the group broke up to go off to the many restaurants around the area.
The general view of all was that it was a successful day out but I was a little frustrated that we were unable to see inside the Great Hall, perhaps another day.
John Mills
Photographs with thanks to Deric Tonge
