The historic Inner Temple estate is getting an upgrade to help secure its future. The Inner Temple, one of the Inns of Court, has recently installed 32 solar panels – also known as solar photovoltaics (PV) – on the roofs of the Grade II listed King’s Bench Walk, home to a number of Barrister chambers.
The chief executive of the Inner Temple, Patrick Maddams, said: “Sitting in the heart of London the Inner Temple’s history and estate stretches back nearly a thousand years. We need to ensure our buildings are here for the future and fit for modern legal practise. That is why we are looking after the sustainability of our buildings while maintaining the historic nature and setting that they are part of.”
Nicholas Waring, capital programme manager of the Inner Temple added that: “This project required careful planning to protect the historic fabric of the Building while also ensuring the views of King’s Bench Walk are unchanged. This project will allow us to supply our tenants and the Inner Temple gardener’s office with electricity and also benefit from the Governments ‘Feed-in-Tariff’”
The solar panels have been installed on 12 and 13 King’s Bench Walk, which are both Grade II and were built in 1829 – 30. The southern return of No. 13 marks the northern bank of the Thames, before the construction of Victoria Embankment. 12 and 13 King’s Bench Walk is the work of former surveyor of Inner Temple, Sir Robert Smirke.
Inner Temple follows work done at Clarence House, the London residence of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, to have PV panels installed on its roof.
