Northern Gate

Hidden in plain sight, the Northern Gate whispers tales of Roman London. This isn’t the original gate, mind you. That one vanished long ago. Let’s rewind to Roman Londinium. Back then, the Northern Gate, known as Aldersgate, stood as a vital gateway in the city’s defensive wall. Built in the late 4th century, it replaced an older gate near Cripplegate Fort. This gate, a crucial part of the wall erected between 190-220 AD, controlled the flow of goods and people, ensuring taxes were collected. Imagine semi-circular towers, roadways bustling with carts, and a platform poised for catapults, a stark warning to any would-be invaders. After the Romans left in the 5th century, Londinium fell into disrepair. The Saxons, led by Alfred the Great, breathed new life into the city in the 9th century. The gate was renamed Ealdredesgate sometime during the medieval period. The name’s origin remains a mystery. Some say it’s from a Saxon named Aldrich, others point to nearby alder trees. John Stow, a 16th-century historian, believed the name stemmed from the gate’s age, signifying its importance as one of London’s first four gates. In the 16th century, Aldersgate housed the printing press of John Day. He printed a Bible dedicated to the young King Edward VI. Fast forward to 1603, a pivotal moment for the Northern Gate. James VI of Scotland, soon to be James I of England, rode through Aldersgate, claiming both thrones after Elizabeth I’s death. The gate, by then dilapidated, was rebuilt in 1617 by Gerard Christmas. Funded by merchant tailor William Parker, the new design celebrated King James’s accession. A grand central arch accommodated vehicles and horses. Smaller posterns catered to pedestrians. Statues of King James, Jeremiah, and Samuel adorned the gate. Inscriptions from Jeremiah 17:25 and Samuel 12:1 underscored the king’s authority and the city’s enduring nature. Sadly, the rebuilt Northern Gate met its end in 1761, demolished to accommodate London’s growing population. While the physical gate is gone, its legacy remains. Aldersgate Street, the City Ward of Aldersgate, and buried ruins keep the memory of the Northern Gate alive.