Staple Inn

Staple Inn

Staple Inn is a building on the south side of High Holborn in London. Located near Chancery Lane tube station, it is used as the London office of the Institute of Actuaries and is the last surviving Inn of Chancery. In 1292 it contained a building known as ‘le Stapled Halle’, which was probably a covered market. A tradition would make this the Inn of the Merchants of the Staple.

The “Staple” originated in a duty on wool that was introduced in 1275 at the “request of the communities of merchants” with the intention that the burden of tax should fall on the foreign buyers of wool. Staple Inn remained owned by woolstaplers, probably until 1580 when the members of the Society built a new Hall on its current site. The Fellows of the Society were wealthy men and their Hall reflected this. In 1936 the old buildings at the front of Staple Inn on High Holborn were completely restored having survived in their original condition since 1586.

The Staple Inn façade is the only example of Elisabethan style in good condition in London. People from 1580's would recognise the building nowadays. The shops around it remind us of the 19^th century, and in the inside court, one can see 18^th century buildings.

Alejandro G & David G 1^st bat C