Newgate

Newgate

One of the City gates, in the City wall on its western side, north of Ludgate, in Farringdon Ward (S. 35).

Stow says it was erected about the time of Henry I. or Stephen, but recent excavations made at the time of the demolition of the old prison and the erection of the new Sessions house prove that the original gate, of which a plinth and other remains were found, was of Roman construction and that it was in all probability the main gate in the western wall, Ludgate being a postern merely, and of later construction (Arch. ix. 130, ib. seq.).

The Roman gate seems to have measured 31 feet in width from east to west. Traces of the Roman ditch have also been found, 70 feet wide.

It seems to have been called in early times "Chamberlain's Gate," for in a MS. of the D. and C. St. Paul's, 1285, mention is made of "Sancti Sepulchri extra Chamb'leingate" (Lib. L. fo. 93). We know from Domesday Book that William the Chamberlain had a vineyard at Holeburn, and this may help to explain the origin of this name.

A charter by Burghred of Mercia, A.D. 857, set out in Kemble, CCLXXX., but marked as spurious, granted to Alhunus bishop "aliquam parvam portionem libertatis cum consensu consiliatorum meorum gugiferi agelluli in vico Lundonie hoc est ubi nominatur Ceolmundingehaga qui est non longe de 'Uuestgetum' positus sibi episcopo in propriam libertatem ad habendum vel ad Uuergerna civitate pertinentem," etc. If this charter can be held to relate to London, it would suggest "Westgate" as the original name of Newgate, but it seems probable that, if genuine, it does not necessarily relate to London at all, but to "Lundenwic," i.e. Sandwich, in Kent.

The Roman origin of Newgate being ascertained, it is quite possible that it may have undergone considerable repair in the time of Henry I. or Stephen, or perhaps after the great fire of 1137, when it may have been entirely rebuilt and so acquired the designation of "Newgate," by which name the prison is referred to in the Pipe Roll, 34 H. II.

It was again rebuilt, temp. H. V. (Cal. L. Bk. K. p. 140).

Again repaired 1555–6 and 1630. Destroyed by the Fire 1666 and rebuilt 1672 stronger and more convenient than before (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. I. 19).

Gate removed 1777 (Encycl. Lond. 106). Wheatley says 1767.

Newgate, the fifth principal gate in the City wall, and so called as "latelier built than the rest,"³ stood across the present Newgate Street, a little east of Giltspur Street and the Old Bailey. It was erected in the reign of Henry I., in consequence of the rebuilding and enlargement of old St. Paul's, by which the highway from Aldgate through Cheap to Ludgate was "so crossed and stopped up" that passengers were forced to go round by Paternoster Row, or the Old Exchange, to get to Ludgate.⁴ It is mentioned in a Pipe Roll of 1188 as a prison. Apparently it became too confined for this purpose, for in 1414, owing to its noisome condition, the keeper of the gate and sixty-four of the prisoners died of the prison plague. It was therefore decided to rebuild it at the recommendation, and partly, if not wholly, at the expense of Sir Richard Whittington. The work was unfinished at his death in 1425, but completed in accordance with the directions of his will; it was again repaired in 1555–1556, after a fire caused by the carelessness of "the keeper's mayde"; and again in 1628–1630. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666, and rebuilt in 1672.⁵ On the east or City side were three stone statues—Justice, Mercy, and Truth—and four on the west or Holborn side—Liberty (with Whittington's cat at her feet), Peace, Plenty, and Concord. Four of these figures ornament the south front of the present prison called Newgate. The gate was taken down in 1767.

This Gate hath of long time been a gaol or prison for felons and trespassers, as appeareth by records in the reign of King John, and of other kings.—Stow, p. 15.

In 1357 it was ordered by Edward III. that the "Mayor of the City, for the time being, shall be one of the Justiciars for delivery of the Gaol of Newgate, and shall be named in every commission to be made thereupon"; and he has been so continued ever since. [See Newgate Prison.]

In the course of excavations made in 1874–1875 for the improvements at the west end of Newgate Street, the massive stone foundiations of the original or of Whittington's gate were discovered several feet below the present roadway. Also a semicircular arched passage, about 30 feet long and 8 feet high, which, it was conjectured, had formed a subterranean connection between the towers which served as the prison and a well, probably intended for the supply of the inmates of Newgate.

---

³ Stow, p. 14.
⁴ Stow, p. 14. The new gate relieved these narrow passages. The present and only carriage-way round St. Paul's was then taken up by the Chapter House, Bake House, and Prebendal Houses.
⁵ Riley's Memorials; Liber Albus; Hatton, p. 7.