The Royal Courts of Justice in London – Pic of the Week

This past October, I was able to take a trip to the United Kingdom. Being the legal geek that I am, I had to stop by the Royal Courts of Justice while in London. The Royal Courts of Justice house the High Court and Court of Appeal for England and Wales. The building complex is not as old as it looks – it was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882 and its medieval look is actually an excellent example of the Gothic Revival style.

One thing missing from these pictures is the bells at St. Clement Danes church nearby (one of many churches designed by Sir Christopher Wren). It was a Sunday morning and the bells rang for about 20 minutes as we walked around the area. Though I took videos of the bells, nothing compares to being there in person, feeling the sounds reverberate around you. I also managed to capture a picture of the rejected design for the Dragon Boundary Marks that designate the limits of the City of London (a district within the Greater London metropolis – it is also often referred to as the City or the Square Mile).

The Royal Courts of Justice building in London, England, with a black taxi cab parked in front. — The Royal Courts of Justice with an iconic black cab in front. Photo by Heather Casey

Close-up photograph of the Royal Courts of Justice building. — Photo by Heather Casey

Close-up of one facade of the Royal Courts of Justice building whose architecture looks like that of a gothic cathedral with spires, arches, and a stained glass window. — When architects were competing to design the Royal Courts of Justice, they believed they were making designs for a cathedral. The winning architect, George Edmund Street, sadly died before the building was opened. Photo by Heather Casey

Statue of Queen Victoria standing under an arch with a dragon seated atop the arch. The statue stands next to the Royal Courts of Justice. — In the middle of the street, next to the Royal Courts of Justice, sits the rejected design for the Dragon Boundary Marks with statues of Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales on either side of its base. Photo by Heather Casey

Another view of the statue of Queen Victoria and the dragon next to the Royal Courts of Justice. — Photo by Heather Casey

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