Dean's Yard

It is a large gated quadrangle, closed to public traffic, chiefly a green upon which the pupils have the long-use acquired exclusive rights to sit, read and to play games such as football (they have some claim to have invented the modern game).

Westminster School displays a royal pardon from Charles II of England and Scotland to the King's Scholars, whose actions killed a bailiff harassing the mistress of one of them in Dean's Yard, accused by his fellow authorities of murder.

Whether he was excused for reacting to the breach of some vestigial sanctuary, in stark contrast to the English Commonwealth where such rights were undeniably defunct, or for a moderate degree of violence that may have been used, such as might have resulted in a manslaughter charge were the victim not a bailiff, is unrecorded.

The Abbey's Sanctuary extended beyond, as far as the north side of Parliament Square to a short approach, Thieving Lane, through which thieves were taken to the prison (see Richard II's gatehouse, Old Palace Yard) without entering sanctuary and being able to claim its immunity,[1] but in the tenements of which prostitution took hold.

HM Treasury is built upon its site, leading to accusations that thieving still continues there, especially at times of higher taxation or departmental cuts.