In 1850, John James Tayler, a Classics Tutor at Manchester College and an abolitionist, gave a speech On the Question of American Slavery. As part of the College's tradition of celebrating and encouraging thinking differently, we hold an annual series in London, called Tayler Talks.
In 2024, Tayler Talks is being held at Middle Temple, hosted by Prof Matthew Weait, HMC Fellow and Director of the Department for Continuing Education and Professor of Law and Society at the University of Oxford. Our speaker is The Rt Hon. the Baroness Scotland of Asthal KC, who is a British diplomat, barrister and politician, serving as the sixth Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations. She is the second Secretary-General from the Caribbean and the first woman to hold the post.
Enjoy drinks during the Tayler Talks and then a fine dinner in the iconic Middle Temple Hall.
- Where: Middle Temple, Middle Temple Ln, Temple, London EC4Y 9BT
- When: Wednesday 24th January 2024, Event starts at 6.30 p.m. with drinks, speaker and dinner
- Cost: £100 for a three-course dinner with wine
- Dress code: Black Tie
Interested in a tour? Arrive earlier at 5.00 p.m. for a guided tour around the historic and awe-inspiring buildings of Middle Temple. You will feel as though you are going back in time as you walk down cobbled lanes flanked with gas street lamps towards one of the finest Elizabethan Halls in the country. Cost is £15/person, with a limited number of spaces available.
Middle Temple is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers. Its history harkens back to the 12th and 13th centuries, when the Middle Temple -- the western part of "The Temple" -- was the headquarters of the Knights Templar until they were dissolved in 1312.
Construction of Middle Temple Hall began in 1562 and was completed in the early 1570s. Its hammerbeam roof has been said to be the best in London. Queen Elizabeth I visited the hall in 1578, unannounced, to inspect the new building and listen to a debate between barristers. This is the earliest known visit of a reigning monarch to an Inn of Court. One of the tables at the end of the hall is traditionally said to have been made from the timbers of the Golden Hinde, the ship used by Sir Francis Drake to circumnavigate the world.
The first recorded performance of Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night occurred in the hall on 2 February 1602. Shakespeare himself was probably present
This event is for members of the HMC community and their guests. We expect that demand will be high, so we suggest you book early.
The small print:
Access to Middle Temple: Once your ticket has been confirmed and within a week of the event, you will be sent information about what you need to bring as proof of identity.
Cancellation Policy: If you are not able to attend the Dinner for any reason, please contact alumni@hmc.ox.ac.uk. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer refunds on any orders cancelled within one week of the event.
Photographs may be taken throughout the event, which may then be used in our print/digital communications and/or social media. If you would prefer that your image was not used, please e-mail alumni@hmc.ox.ac.uk.
Any questions? Please email: alumni@hmc.ox.ac.uk
We look forward to seeing you at Middle Temple in January!
