Located on the N side of Holborn, the original site of Furnival's Inn, an Inn of Chancery, is now occupied by the high Victorian building presently housing the Prudential Assurance Company.
Before its demolition, Furnival's Inn was described as follows: '...it occupies a very considerable plot of ground, and is divided into two squares or courts. The first towards Holborn is of a good width, but shallow, and built round on the four sides. The second or inner court extends the depth of great part of Brook Street, and has chambers on one side only: the buildings of both are in a sad state of decay, and appear to be very much neglected' (Herbert, Antiquities 326).
Original accounts do not survive but a few antiquarian transcriptions indicate performances by a variety of entertainers at Furnival's Inn in the 15th c.
Demolished.
1383 William de Furnivalle, 4th Lord Furnivalle, leased the property to law students.
1547 Purchased by Lincoln's Inn.
1817 Lincoln's Inn refused to renew the lease. Society dissolved and Inn demolished by a subsequent lessee. A new building was erected on the site.
1897 Georgian building demolished and a further extension added to Alfred Waterhouse's Victorian Gothic headquarters for the Prudential Assurance Company.
REED Inns of Court 1.7, 17, 19, 23, 25, 30
