Inner Temple - Gate House, ca.1885

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"The first view shows the Gatehouse, a building of the time of James I. The plumes of feathers in the panels between the first and second floors were intended as a compliment to Henry, Prince of Wales. The statement conveyed by the inscription surrounding the picture of a "hair-cutting saloon," that this was "formerly the Palace of Henry VIII. and Cardinal Wolsey" - not merely a Palace but the Palace - must be taken as an example of unusually "bold advertisement." The assertion can only be accounted for by supposing that the author of the inscription confused this Gatehouse with that of Middle Temple, with which, as will be seen further on, Wolsey's name is indeed connected."

The above description, by Alfred Marks, was taken from the letterpress which accompanies these photographs.