London Buildings City (The Square Mile) Old BaileyThe Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom, commonly known as the Old Bailey, is a court building in central London, 
one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court. The Crown Court deals with major criminal cases from Greater London and, in exceptional cases, from other parts of Britain. It stands on the site of the medieval Newgate Gaol, on Old Bailey, a road which follows the line of the City of London's fortified wall (or bailey), and gives the court its popular name. It lies between Holborn Circus and St Paul's Cathedral.
The present building dates from 1902, but it was officially opened on 27 February 1907. It was designed by E.W. Mountford and built on the site of the infamous Newgate Prison, which was demolished to allow the court buildings to be constructed. Above the main entrance is inscribed the admonition, "Defend the Children of the Poor & Punish the Wrongdoer". King Edward VII personally opened the courthouse.
On the dome above the court stands a statue of Lady Justice, produced by the British sculptor, F. W. Pomeroy. She holds a sword in her right hand and a pair of weighing scales in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice; however, the figure is not blindfolded. A remnant of the city wall is preserved in the basement beneath the cells.
The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EH
