INNS of Chancery were probably so called, because anciently inhabited by such clerks as chiefly studied the forming of writs, which regularly belonged to the curators, who are officers of chancery.
The first of these is Thavies Inn, begun in the reign of Edward III. and since purchased by the society of Lincoln's Inn. Beside this, we have New Inn, Symond's Inn, Clement's Inn, Clifford's Inn, anciently the house of the lord Clifford; Staple Inn, belonging to the merchants of the staple; Lion's Inn, anciently a common inn with the sign of the lion; Furnival's Inn, and Bernard's Inn.
These were heretofore preparatory colleges for younger students; and many were entered here, before they were admitted into the inns of court. Now they are mostly taken up by attorneys, solicitors, &c.
They all belong to some of the inns of court, who formerly used to send yearly some of their barristers to read to them.