Syrup

 

Syrup

                                                                            Barrister’s wig

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Syrup comes from the Cockney rhyming slang ‘syrup of figs’, meaning a wig.

There are three different forms of wig that are worn in criminal court cases – the barrister’s wig, the judge’s bench wig and the judge’s full bottomed wig. The barrister’s wig, the ‘tie wig’, is curled at the front, above the forehead, and has two or three horizontal rows of curls around the sides and back of the head and two ‘tails’. 

                                            Judge’s bench wig 

                             Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The judge’s bench wig is tightly curled or frizzed all over with two small ties at the back. 

    

                             1st Viscount Hewart in full-bottomed wig

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The judge’s full-bottomed wig, similar in style to the barrister’s, has frizzed sides rather than curls and extends over the shoulders. Such wigs are not normally worn now, except for ceremonial occasions.

 Before wigs became the accepted dress in court, lawyers were simply expected to trim their hair and beards neatly.  That changed during the reign of Charles II (1660-1685) when wigs became a popular form of dress and were considered essential in polite society. Wigs had gone out of fashion by the 1820s but remained part of court dress. Since 2007 they are no longer required in family or civil court cases but are still worn during criminal trials.

Traditionally, wigs, also known as perruques, are hand-made from horse hair, though synthetic versions are available. Horsehair from the mane is finer than the coarser hair from the tail, but either may be used. The hair is washed before work starts on making a wig, to ensure that it is clean and free of bacteria, and it is then graded by colour. Wigs take about three weeks to make by hand. Some wigs are bespoke, while others are ‘off the peg’ in sizes small, medium or large.

There is some debate over how frequently wigs should be cleaned. Some authorities suggest that once every 25-30 years is sufficient, while others recommend professional cleaning at least once a year. Presumably it depends how often and in what circumstances and climatic conditions it is worn.

Baby barrister Frankie - he is 10 years old, so still quite young

The Hanging Judge, about to don the black cap!

From Wikipedia: The black cap is a plain black fabric square formerly worn as symbolic headgear by English, Welsh, Irish and Northern Irish judges in criminal cases when passing a sentence of death. When worn, the square was placed on top of the judicial wig, with one of the four corners of the fabric facing forward. The cap is based on Tudor court styles.^[

Would she be more lenient? Don't you believe it!

 Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1)