Furnival's Inn

Furnival's Inn

On the north side of Holborn, between Leather Lane and Brook Street (O.S. 1880).

Southern portion in Farringdon Ward Without, the northern part outside the City boundary.

First mention: "Fournyvalle's Inne," 32 H. VI. I. p.m.

Other forms of name: "Furnyvalesyn," 39 H. VI. (ib. 39 H. VI.). "Furnyvale In," 1457 (Ct. H.W. II. 531).

In 50 Ed. III. tenements in par. of St. Andrew in Holbourne were granted to William Lord Fournyval (Hust. Roll 104).

In 32 H. VI. it belonged to John, earl of Shrewsbury, and still formed part of his possessions at his death, 1460 (I. p.m. 32 H. VI. and Cal. P.R. H. VI. 1452–61, p. 635).

Granted by F. Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury, to Edward Gryffin, Solicitor Gen., William Roper and Ric. Heydon, 1 Ed. VI., L. and Midd. Feet of Fines.

An Inn of Chancery, attached to Lincoln's Inn.

From the records of the Inn, it appears that it was demised to students of the Law by the Lords Furnival in 1408.

Taken down 1640 and rebuilt by Inigo Jones. Again rebuilt 1818–20. Sold 1853, northern portion of the site occupied by Wood's Hotel.

Site purchased by the Prudential Assurance Co. for new offices.

Furnival's-Inn, Holborn, is on the north side between Leather-lane and Gray's-inn-lane. It is one of the inns of Chancery, and took its name, according to Stow, from having anciently belonged to Sir William Furnival. It has been taken down about seven years ago, and rebuilt in a substantial manner by the late Mr. Peto, the builder of the New Custom House.

Furnival's Inn, Holborn,—at 135, N. side, about six doors W. from Leather-lane and near ⅕ of a mile on the R. from Fleet-market.

Furnival's Inn, Holborn, east of Gray's Inn Road. Once an Inn of Chancery attached to Lincoln's Inn, since (about 1818) a series of chambers wholly unconnected with any Inn of Court.

Next beyond this manor of Ely House is Leather Lane, turning into the field. Then is Furnivalles Inn, now an Inn of Chancery, but some time belonging to Sir William Furnivall, Knight, who had in Holborn two messuages and thirteen shops, as appeareth by record of Richard II., in the 6th of his reign.—Stow, p. 145.

But doubtlesse, that Sir William, owner of this Inne, was a Baron and Lord Furnivall, whose heire generall was after married to John Lord Talbot, created Earle of Shrewsbury by King Henry the 6, and the Earle had this house with other goodly inheritances in dower with his wife, the daughter and heir of the Lord Furnivall. And the late Sir George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, sold the inheritance of this house in the beginning of Queene Elizabeth's reign, or thereabout, to the Benchers of Lincoln's Inne, for a Colledge or House for the Gentlemen's students or practisers of the Law of Chauncery, they hauing before but hired it for yeerely rent of the foresaid Lords. And this doth Master Kniveton affirme out of his certain knowledge.—Sir George Buc, in Howes, ed. 1631, p. 1074.

1408, 9th Henry IV.—Professors and Students of the Law occupy the house called Furnival's Inn, under a demise from the Lords Furnival.

1530.—The Society are lessees of Furnival's Inn. The Register of this year makes mention of an arrear of rent for that house being now due from the Society.

1547.—Francis, Earl of Shrewsbury and Baron Furnival, in consideration of £120 conveys Furnival's Inn to the Gubernatores Hospit., Lincoln.—C.P. Cooper's edition of Melmoth, Appendix.

Sir Wilfull. You [Witwould] could write news before you were out of your time, when you lived with honest Pimplenose the attorney of Furnival's Inn.—Congreve, The Way of the World, 4to, 1700.

My uncle, rest his soul! while living
Might have contrived me ways of thriving.
*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *
Or sent me with ten pounds to Furni-
Val's Inn to some good rogue attorney,
Where now, by forging deeds and cheating,
I'd have some handsome ways of getting.
Matt. Prior to Sir Fleetwood Shephard.

The greater part of the old inn, described by Stow, was taken down about 1640, and a new building, designed by Inigo Jones, erected in its stead. The Gothic Hall, with its timber roof (part of the original structure), was standing, 1818–1820, when the whole inn was rebuilt by William Peto, the contractor.¹ The inn was sold about 1853 for £55,000, the rent being about £6000 per annum. There is a statue of "Henry Peto, 1830" in the courtyard. The north side of the inn is occupied by Wood's Hotel.

Shirley the poet's son was butler of this inn; and Sir Thomas More was "Reader by the space of three years and more." Thomas Ken (d. 1651), Bishop Ken's father, was "of Furnival's Inn, Barber-Surgeon and Sheriff's attorney accomptant." William Linley, composer of many well-known glees, and compiler of the Songs of Shakespeare (2 volumes folio), died at his lodgings in Furnival's Inn, May 6, 1835; and Charles Dickens wrote his inimitable Pickwick Papers in his chambers, on the third floor.

---

¹ Of this hall is an interesting view in Wilkinson's Londina Illustrata. Of the second inn there are views in Wilkinson, and in the 1754 ed. of Stowe.