The Gates Of The City Of London

[@rob28803]

1760 -61 seems to have been a particularly bad year for heritage buildings in London

[@michaeldobson2433]

rob28803 I thought this too. Any particular reason why all the gates got pulled down during this time period?

[@chasbodaniels1744]

Yes, Im wondering why several gates were lost between 1760 - 71. I can guess they’d become major obstructions in the rapidly-growing metropolis.

[@jlelliotton]

The gates were demolished as part of a road widening scheme. They were just too narrow as the population of London outside the walls grew.

[@3879keith]

rob28803:.... to destroy all those gates would have been a huge project, something definately going on!!!!....the 1700s version of crossrail...lol

[@sian2337]

I was about to say the same. I wonder why they demolished the gates, it’s intriguing.

[@EddieTofpik]

There was a 'postern gate' next to the moat of the Tower of London that was excavated in the late 1970's by the Inner London Archaeological Unit. I worked as a volunteer there helping scrape away the overlay of 1900 odd years to reveal the earthen bank that helped support the Roman/Saxon Wall of London behind the statue of Julius Caesar in the early part of the video. My only claim to fame was I think I was the only one who found a Roman coin on the site at the time...I put my trowel right through it :(

[@pcackett91]

This is a great video. Having worked in the City of London until earlier this year I have visited all of these locations, but my knowledge behind them was lacking. Massive thumbs up on this one!

[@Londonistvids]

thanks Peter, lovely feedback! appreciated.

[@enduser63]

@@Londonistvids you missed out the most important gate.

[@ooglefluffg857]

It would be really neat if at least one or two were still standing, maybe even with with roads still running through them. Shame they were all demolished. I get the impression that our preservationist culture is a fairly recent invention. If they had lasted just a little while longer, at least some of them would almost certainly be Grade II listed by now.

[@ramzanninety-five3639]

Not a little, actually. Paris demolished its walls just over a century ago. Before the rise of Romanticism (and its subsequent interconnection with nationalism) nobody genuinely cared much about relics and artifacts, aside from some key ecclesiastical objects. The appearance of the virtue of authenticity, so to speak, is even more recent phenomenon well-established only after the onslaught of public housing, public highways, and other large-scale post-war construction projects.

[@ericjamieson]

@@ramzanninety-five3639 They completely knocked down the old Euston station, and that was in the 1960s. A lot of people date the modern historic preservation movement, at least in the Anglosphere, to the loss of Euston station in the UK and the demolition of Penn Station in New York, which happened around the same time. When the forces of progress came for St Pancras station in the UK and Grand Central in NYC, they faced a huge public backlash and since then major public buildings have usually been preserved.

[@bioux101]

The nature of London means that although we have some wonderful, ancient monuments the city itself is a fast moving and ever evolving city that cares little for the past.

[@L.M1792]

Ramzan Ninety-five of course there is no lasting city in this life. Should we then put our hope and faith in the one to follow? Yes. Breeze blocks never did it for me anyway, although I am sure their intentions are well meaning, affordable housing etc etc.

[@DmanYTofficial]

Ramzan Ninety-five I live in a city in Northern Ireland. It’s the only complete walled city in Europe. The walls were built in the 1600’s and all still stand and are a tourist attraction. There are several gates in and out of the city centre, and in side there’s several shops and businesses, hotels, and even a shopping centre. It’s pretty cool!

[@jamesupton4996]

Did this London Gates Walk a couple of weeks ago as the focal point of what became a ramble. Started at Tower Hill. The plaques with the blue route line are not as clear as could be, and there isn't quite enough signposting en route. Going into the Barbican centre though there are some lovely little garden corners with ruins. Like everything about historic London Walks you need a bit of background preparation, including on decent alehouses for the pit-stops.

[@CADJewellerySkills]

The Beatles song that mentions Bishopsgate was "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite" From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. A glorious piece of psychedelica.

[@robertewalt7789]

Quebec City still has a wall around it. NYC had a wooden wall from river to river, along what is now Wall Street.

[@SteveMorton]

The Beatles: For the benefit of Mr. Kite Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishopsgate

[@jamiehdediting9661]

Steve Morton Yes! I got it right!

[@clemstevenson]

Apparently the song was adapted from the words on a 19th century flier that John Lennon had acquired. In other words, it was a real advertisement.

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

@@clemstevenson : sure thing. I've a reprint of that very poster on my wall... "LATE NIGHT BUT THREE for the BENEFIT OF MR. KITE, Mr J. HENDERSON..." etc.

[@clemstevenson]

@@jeanbonnefoy1377 Yes, the source material for songs can be a fascinating subject.

[@MrExEssex]

Rhymes with: "The Hendersons will dance and sing as Mr Kite flies through the ring. Don't be late!"

[@Nastyswimmer]

Gate, from Germanic "gaet" (Norse "gata") meaning a path, passage or route. "Gate" originally referred to the gap in, or way through the walls. The thing that blocked that gap was a bar. When the bar was blocking the way the gate was barred - it was a barred gate

[@Romartus]

I would have added St.John's Gate in Clerkenwell which is a medieval gate to show as an example of what they would have looked like in their heyday.

[@vincentdeguard4726]

one of the best Londonist videos of the year so far.

[@chiarac2747]

This kinda makes me sad, talking about ancient buildings we can no longer admire :(

[@hoopster68]

Try facadism!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pH6YdICLms6BZ5I

[@nlo114]

What was the significance of the demolition years 1760 and 1761?

[@seanbeacher2904]

We went on the walk of the gates yesterday and had great fun! A couple of hostelries were encountered enroute...great hunt for the blue plaques a really great adventure!

[@PinkThorn242]

Could the Aldersgate name have something to do with the Aldermen of the City?

[@kevelliott]

That's what I wondered.

[@syncrosimon]

There’s lots of references to suggest the gate was called Aldred’s Gate.👍

[@stuartsviews1565]

I'm sure I've seen references to Aldermansgate

[@georgegreig8054]

There was another gate where prostitutes hung out called Spunkcunt gate. Obviously it's never mentioned now.

[@zel3888]

Yeah I think it might be based on the anglo-saxon word for nobleman - Alderman.

[@flamencoprof]

I am a NZer and visited London twice in the 90s. I did a few "London Walks" and found them fascinating. The "wall walk" he pointed out I would have been happy to do. What a great old city I saw. Far too much to take in in a lifetime, and I bet half of Londoners know little more than I. Thanks for an interestingly presented and informative post. BTW It reminded me of a trip I took on the Parisian underground to La Place de la Bastille, where there is no Bastille to see, just some paving to mark where one of its towers stood. (And a lot of "hipster" cafes :-)

[@howardjones543]

Nice! A cool followup would be mentioning the various places that parts of the wall are still visible. I know one of the office buildings in the Aldgate end of Leadenhall Street has some, and I think the car park under the Barbican, at least.

[@MarcusfotosDe]

This is quite sad that all the gates got demolished. In my hometown of cologne the wall got teared down in the 1800 but some of the bigger gates where kept and streets that got to big got diverted around them. Most of the Remaining struktures are in use to this day as venues, musical shools and this sort of thing.

[@Irdanwen]

In Dutch, "kreupel" indeed means cripple, but we also have "kreupelhout" which would literally be cripple wood if that were a thing, and it means low growing vegetation in forests.

[@SometimesCompitent]

1760's seems to be a popular decade for tearing down gates. What happened? I assume it had to be done because the city was growing, but what actually happened?

[@bioux101]

Peter Acroyd's Biography of London is amazing if you wish to know more.

[@danieljohnmorris]

Surely Alders gate is referring to Alderman, a Saxon term for a local government official.

[@bleees1637]

Very interesting video! Much like many other Londonist videos, I only wish they were slightly longer. e.g. with additional maps with overlays to show the areas and roads you're referring to etc. 😀

[@annie482000]

A small section of the wall is (or used to be) visible at Tower Hill station, on the westbound platform (I think!) Barbican station used to be known as Aldersgate & Barbican. It was changed sometime in the sixties.

[@garethlandy5845]

Thank you for taking the time to produce such an interesting video

[@peterwright6235]

Lud was also a Celtic god and there were temples built in his name. It’s possible the original site of St. Paul’s was such a temple.

[@AGMKelly]

I did work experience in 125 London Wall that was shown during the cripplegate section, love the episode!

[@sapper82]

One part of Bishopsgate that survives today are the four dragon heads at Wallington Hall in Northumberland. Sent up North as ballast in a collier returning to Newcastltafter unloading its cargo.

[@rambler241]

Cripplegate was the northern gate of a large Roman fort. The wall to the W of the gate takes a right-turn to the SW - that was the NW corner of the fort, so two sides of the fort wall were incorporated in the city wall.

[@06lilbig]

04:57 - A Ford Transit Van flagrantly tailgates in the box junction whilst a brazen black cabbie swerves into the opposing lane to avoid it - what an ironic way to end the video as it brings us back to the reality of our present City of London!

[@Nickle314]

Several missing. There were two gates on London Bridge. Billingsgate and Norton Folgate another example

[@DontScareTheFish]

At 'The church of Aldgate' you point to is "St. Botolph without Aldgate". Can you caption appropriately as later in the video you make a point of "St. Sepulchre without Newgate" being outside the gate. The church just inside that gate is St Katharine Cree

[@KristerL]

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite is the Beatles song. On the Sgt.Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band album

[@Yak1986]

Fascinating to discover the history of London. So many layers. An excellent video, thanks 😊

[@mylesrichardson2087]

Great video Matt & Geoff,can't wait for the next one,Fascinating..

[@ElectricMotive]

Hi, I never knew about these gates or even a wall around that part of London.

[@Londonistvids]

heya! indeed... there's a walk you can do (as shown in the video), which is fantastic to do, following where the wall used to be. do it sometime! www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/Londons-Roman-City-Wall/

[@Liz-sc5dg]

At 3:25 there is a ruin under a walk bridge by 140 London Wall just after he introduces Aldresgate. What is or was that?

[@jpaulc441]

It's the remains of a round tower that was part of the Roman wall. Only part of it is Roman though - it was added to later in the medieval era before it fell into ruin.

[@JamieConway]

"engirdled"... must try use that in a sentence

[@jul30ie]

Why were they practically all demolished in 1760-61?...

[@pedanticradiator1491]

Road widening

[@thomasrice4078]

Nice job! Love visiting London, so much more history than my little "corn and cows" corner of the world.

[@Nickle314]

You're missing at least two. There were two gates on London Bridge, one on the north side, one on the south. Then what about Bishopsgate, Norton Folgate, ...

[@ianp7661]

It's so sad that at least one didn't survive. I imagine it would have looked similar to the walls and gates in york.

[@chrisclark1761]

Interestingly; Dublin also had a prison in one of it's city gates. Also called Newgate.

[@danieledugre1837]

Great video! Yet more places to visit on my next London trip!

[@SloMoShort]

I walk past a few of those each day and barely give it a second look. I will do now. Thanks

[@angelafrederick6972]

Triple thumbs up londonist great video

[@erichb2249]

Around Aldersgate (Barbican) there are some remains of the wall and tower. You should have shown some pictures of it.

[@LordHeath1972]

Great video, I didn't know any of that stuff. Oh, and PS. I hope that white van at 5:00 in the box junction got a bloody ticket!

[@raymasraymas]

As any resident of York (and perhaps other cities) would tell you, the suffix “-gate” means road e.g. Gillygate, Stonegate & Petergate. Similarly “bar” means gate, e.g. Bootham Bar, Monkbar and most interestingly, Micklegate Bar! Why is this different in London?

[@markturner4219]

Even though the word may have its origins in old norse for road or path, it was also used to describe the gap in a wall or stockade that a road or path passed through. Over centuries usage of words from the same root word evolve differently in different communities. This is demonstrated frequently among different dialects within the country. Because York was in the Danelaw (approximately the modern day counties of Leicester, York, Nottingham, Derby, Lincoln, Essex, Cambridge, Suffolk, Norfolk, Northampton, Huntingdon, Bedford (North of the Great Ouse), Hertford, Middlesex, and Buckingham) and London wasn't. That is why there are many different place name styles, words and language usages between the two areas of England. It is really noticeable even today in Bedfordshire where the villages North of the Great Ouse are completely different in character to those South of the Great Ouse.

[@mg4663]

I've always wanted to see London, so much History.

[@glitch4465]

You should do programmes for that channel London Live

[@_JohnDoe]

What happened to your right hand's fingers at 4:01?

[@bobnewmanknott3433]

What a great film concise and informative will l look for other videos by this chap many thanks

[@joelong7273]

I'm really happy now because hearing people mention my home town (Colchester) makes me happy for some reason

[@joelong7273]

also I would enjoy it if you made an Inside Liverpool street video

[@joelong7273]

Also I loved the video

[@thebritishindian1]

That was really interesting! Looking forward to exploring your channel

[@PhilWaud]

"Being for the benefit of Mr Kite" is one of my favourite Beatles lyrics

[@MyMpc1]

I'm confused at Bishop's Gate named after a 7th century Bishop...so not a Roman gate at all then? Or maybe Bishop's Gate was a later name given to it?

[@mhappy01]

Why where most of the gates demolished in 1760/61?

[@mattfromlondonist]

No longer served any defensive purpose and were just getting in the way of traffic.

[@szymongorczynski7621]

Such a shame...

[@stephenf3433]

+No. 85 Merlin RPSI No. 85 Merlin

[@szymongorczynski7621]

+Andy Roid Aye, that's right.

[@mhappy01]

but is it a coincidence they where all demolished at the same time?

[@advancelast1740]

Absolutely fascinating- thank you

[@malcbarrass7090]

For a City Wall complete with most of it's gates come to York.

[@highpath4776]

Or Tenby in Wales

[@squonk2630]

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, anyone who leaves out the word 'being' does not get a point.

[@hull39]

Is there any reason why many of the gates were demolished in the 1760's and 1770's?

[@sandymoorferrariclub2351]

The urban area had spread far beyond the original city walls, so that most of the city was outside of the walls. This meant that the walls were of little defensive value, so the walls were demolished. As the gates only existed to act as a route from one side of the city wall to the other, the gates served no purpose when the walls were demolished (other than decorative), so eventually the gates were also demolished since they wouldn't have been worth the cost of upkeep.

[@WillRankinJourno]

‘Engirdled’ 👍🏼👍🏼

[@BryonLape]

Seems like quite a bit of wall between the Thames and Aldgate.

[@pangolin7418]

As well as St Sepulchre Without Newgate mentioned near the end - there's St Botolph Without Aldgate (just visible written on the board in the camera shot) AND a St Botolph Without Bishopsgate, AND a St Botolph Without Aldersgate. (There's a St Martin Within Ludgate too.) The tiled panel showing a section of the Roman Wall walk is one of originally 21 numbered panels set out over 30 years ago by the Museum of London. Over half are missing now, but they are worth looking out for when walking the line of the wall. The explanatory text and artwork from the panels is still archived away in the backwaters of the Museum of London's site here: archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/MuseumOfLondon/Templates/microsites/londinium/article_lite.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID=%7B30E0F3BC-9E55-4FA6-A90E-DAB57D74371C%7D&NRORIGINALURL=%2FLondinium%2FToday%2FLondonWallWalk%2F&NRCACHEHINT=NoModifyGuest

[@mattfromlondonist]

Thanks Pangolin. For anyone interested in why there are so many St Botolph churches in London, see our earlier article on the subject: londonist.com/2015/12/st-botolph

[@pangolin7418]

Informative as always... I am reminded by a comment below in which St Giles is mentioned that I should have included that too as it is St Giles Without Cripplegate

[@261Knight_AsteriskJerry]

When will you upload a video of The Timeline of Gate in London?

[@ThomasInLondon]

I’m wondering if Bishopsgate might take it’s name not from any particular bishop but rather from my hometown King’s Lynn, which used to be called Bishop’s Lynn before the reformation and is the terminus so to speak of the old roman road leading out from Bishopsgate ( A10) to BIshop’s Lynn? Any thoughts on how possible or likely this hypothesis is?

[@douglas2510]

Amazing video. Keep history coming

[@Shif80]

I may be wrong but I think the presenter was from somewhere near coventry? And love the use of the word ‘engirdled’!

[@alejandroolvera2]

I like this video that shows the history of London, please make more videos.

[@JetskiDex]

this is really cool, didnt realise any of this

[@jerrynadler2883]

really wish historical preservation societies existed in 1760....

[@HenrysAdventures]

Very interesting! Happy New Year!

[@matthewbrooker]

"Engirdled." Love it!

[@spencerfoster8634]

I know it's post Roman but as a kid I was fascinated by the Tower's "Traitor's gate."

[@Richard-fv7rq]

Lots of history there, fantastic stuff....

[@DS-fk7ed]

Such a shame all of the old gates have been lost. Even if just one had survived it would be a wonderful addition to London's architecture. What a fantastic sight it would be.

[@chicagodaddy1]

Are you related to Laurence Brown from Lost in the Pond on KZbin ?

[@brentritchie6199]

Excellent video thank you. All demolished around 1760. That’s a few lifetimes ago. If only they could have imagined how it would change

[@lauralovell1024]

What about billings gate? According to a history book from the 1700’s that was the first one built and king billing was buried there.

[@Huzayfa95]

What happened in 1760/1761 that meant all these gates were demolished?

[@matteogasparotti2629]

it blocked traffic getting into the city

[@TheClunkingFist]

Indeed. Philistines!

[@phillwainewright4221]

I think Aldersgate was so named because the Aldermen of the City were based there. Also - the 1770s weren't a good time for the gates - all demolished!

[@BigBennKlingon]

The 18th century is known for it's neoclassicist obsession with Roman art and architecture. I've always found it paradoxical that the gates were torn down at the exact moment that you would think they would be most appreciated.

[@PaulNurse1]

Nice informative video but why were all these landmarks demolished in the same year

[@Adargi]

Huge Shame the gates were demolished!

[@samoinborut1339]

Thank you. I'm in love London.

[@neatodd]

Really interesting! Thanks.

[@StevenTorrey]

At 5:10 is that St. Paul's in the background. How long a walk is this? Can it be done in an afternoon? It is arduous, up and down, or level?

[@darkcenturion5735]

Ludgate might refer to the anglo saxon name "Lundenwic"?

[@latimeralder1]

Or vice versa...?

[@Sammy1234568910]

Interesting that two of those names are also given to gates in London's walled city in Northern Ireland. Derry which is officially named Londonderry was financed and developed by the livery companies of the City of London in the early 17th century including the building of city walls which unlike the parent city's are still standing (although not as ancient). There are seven gates in these walls (originally they were only four but three more were added in the 18th and 19th century) one of which is called Bishop's Gate and the other New Gate. Bishops Gate opens into Bishops Street were the Bishops house was (and still is) and New Gate was the first of the three later gates to be built so the names might be coincidence.

[@jamesupton4996]

I think co-incidence. Interesting that Earl Bishop Hervey's rebuilding of Bishop's Gate in Derry was the same year as the French Revolution.

[@HROM1908]

Excellent overview, thank you. Why were they all demolished in the 1760s?

[@nuhsjus3458]

love the blog found so many good things to do as good as time out

[@websitesthatneedanem]

Excellent job Matt!

[@nevreiha]

But gate means road in Nordic so idk

[@imaadahere]

Well since the gates used to be the 'roads' into the cities, it sort of lines up

[@unknownfury7672]

Yes, also in York you have Micklegate and Micklegate bar (which is the gateway)

[@bushyconn]

Hmmmm. Full of perhaps and maybes. Its amazing how little we really know about the history of London, isn't it? But it os good to find someone prepared put his neck out. Keep up the good work!!

[@CraigTheCriminal]

Extremely sad all were demolished instead of kept for historical importance.

[@alconamx]

Wonderful, cheers!

[@stenbak88]

It looked like the gates were all demolished in the mid to late 1700s, do you know why

[@azizrahman9496]

Don't know why

[@RobManser77]

That was really interesting, thank you.

[@Aleksandr017]

All these years and now I finally know where did Tomb Raider III take its' London level name from lol

[@MsrAlaindeFerrier]

Cor, if only history would have been as interesting as this at school, perhaps I would have got a higher grade than a D,

[@Mike.Nov51]

Alan Ferris D?...luxury...we didn't even have letters