Aldersgate

Aldersgate

One of the principal gates in the City Wall, at the northern end of St. Martin's le Grand, and leading into Aldersgate Street, on the site now occupied by No. 62 in that street (Rocque, 1746).

Stow speaks of it as one of the first four gates of the City, serving the northern districts (S. 34), and this view receives confirmation from the considerable Roman remains that have come to light in the neighbourhood from time to time.

Earliest mention found in records "Ealdredesgate," Etheldred's Institutes, 10 and 11 Cent. (Thorpe's Anc. Laws, p. 127). But the MSS. are of the 13th century, or the latter part of the 12th century, and not authoritative as to the original form of the name.

Other forms "Aldredesgate," Reg. Clerkenwell Priory (12th century), quoted by Dugdale, IV. 83 (Cott. MS. Faust. B. 11. B.M.). "Aldredesgate," 49 H. III. (Anc Deeds, A. 1983). "Aldridesgate," 53 H. III. (ib. A. 1870). "Aldretheggate," 54 H. III. (ib. A. 1590). "Aldrethesgate," 54 H. III. (ib. A. 1530). "Alresgate," 1272–3 (Ct. H.W. I. 14). "Aldresgate," 1274 (ib. 19). "Aldreidesgate," 1285 (Cal. L. Bk. A. p. 210). "Allereddesgate," 1291 (Ct. H.W. I. p. 100). "Aldrichesgate," 1283 (ib. 67). "Aldersgate," 1307 (ib. 192). (But this is probably not the form in the M.S.) "Alcheresgate," 28 Ed. I. (Cal. L. Bk. C. p. 37). "Aldrichgate," 1316 (ib. 264). "Aldrisgate," 1349 (ib. 547). "Aldrichegate," 1349 (ib. 605). "Alderichesgate," 1349 (ib. 622). "Aldrechegate," 1351 (ib. 665). "Alderychgate," 1361 (ib. II. 17). "Alderichgate, Alderichegate," 1361 (ib. 27). "Alderesgate," 1363 (ib. 81). "Aldrychegate," 1380–1 (ib. 222). "Aldrychgate," 1407 (ib. 370). "Aldrychesgate," 1433 (ib. 465). "Aldrisshgate," 1436–7 (ib. 481). "Althergate, Altergate," 16th Century (Machyn's Diary).

In 1335 it was ordained that the gate should be covered with lead and a small house made under it for the gate-keeper (Cal. L. Bk. F. p. 15). It was taken down and rebuilt 1617, repaired and beautified in 1670 after the Fire and again in 1739 by the Lord Mayor.

In 1750 the apartments over the gate were occupied by the Common Crier, and the eastern postern, which had been shut up, was reopened.

The materials of the gate were sold for £91, in April, 1761, and the gate taken down.

With reference to the derivation of the name, Stow says it was so named for the very antiquity of the gate, as being one of the first four gates of the City, but this derivation is obviously wrong, as in none of the forms in which the word is met with could it possibly denote "Old Gate."

The name is almost certainly derived from the personal name "Ealdred" or "Aidred," The form found in Etheired's "Instituta Londoniae" quoted above, but Mr. Loftie's statement that the Aldred in question lived in the time of the first Mayor of London (i.e. at the end of the 12th century) is clearly wrong.

The name appears in so many forms, as shown in the list set out above, that it may be of interest to classify the several forms according to the derivations which (taken by themselves) they would suggest, appending to each separate form the number of times it occurs, in the Court of Hastings Wills, Liber Albus, etc., Riley's Memorials, City Letter books, and other authorities consulted.

1. Aldred's Gate: Aldredes (5), Aldrides (3), Allereddes (1), Aidrethe (1). In all ten instances between 1263 and 1343.

2. Aldrich's Gate: Aldrich (15), Aldriche (13), Aldreche (1), Aldrych (1), Aldryche (2), Aldryches (1), Alderich (1), Alderiche (4), Aldriches (32), Alderiches (1), Alderych (1), Aldrissh (1). In all seventy-three instances between 1283 and 1587.

3. Ealdor's Gate, i.e. the gate of the prince or alderman; Alderes (1), Aldres (47), Aldris (1), Alders (4), Alder (2), Aldir (1), Alther (5), Alter (1). In all sixty-two instances between 1214 and 1597.

The form "Alres" occurs once in 1272, and although so early, must be a corruption from one of the other forms. It is remarkable that the forms suggesting "Aldred" should occur so infrequently, and that the other forms should make their appearance so early. But in dealing with the derivations of names, it is the earliest forms that are the most important, however scanty in number they may be.

Remains of a Roman ditch were found here on the site of the General Post Office, 75 ft. wide and 14 ft. deep, much wider than the remains in other parts, and it is suggested that it may have been part of a later scheme for strengthening the defences of the City (Arch. LXIII. p. 278).

See Gates of the City.

Aldersgate, a gate in the City wall, near the church of St. Botolph, and south end of the present Castle and Falcon Inn; the exact site is marked by No. 62 on the east side of the street. As early as 1289 a house called Redehalle [Redhall], belonging to Henry le Galeys, is described as being "without Aldredesgate."¹ In 1460 it occurs as Aldresgate. In 1375, in the mayoralty of William Waleworthe, the Corporation granted to Ralph Strode, Common Counter [Common Sergeant], for the good service rendered by him to the City, "all the dwelling-house, together with the garden, and all other its appurtenances, situate over the Gate of Aldrichesgate; to have and to hold the same so long as he shall remain in the said office of Counter."² It is written Aldrichegate in the City Record of 27 Henry III.³ (1243), and in the London Chronicle of Edward IV.'s time, printed by Sir Harris Nicolas (p. 99).

Ældresgate, or Aldersgate, so called not of Aldrich or of Elders, that is to say, ancient men, builders thereof; not of Eldarne trees, growing there more abundantly than in other places, as some have fabled; but for the very antiquity of the gate itself, as being one of the first four gates of the city, and serving for the northern parts, as Aldegate for the east; which two gates being both old gates, are, for difference' sake, called, the one Ealdegate, and the other Aldersgate.—Stow, p. 14.

The gate described by Stow was taken down in 1617, and rebuilt the same year from a design by Gerard Christmas, the architect, as Vertue thought, of old Northumberland House. On the outer front was a figure in high relief of James I. on horseback, with the prophets Jeremiah and Samuel in niches on each side: on the inner or City front an effigy of the King in his chair of state. King James, on his way to take possession of his new dominions, entered London by the old gate: the new gate referred to this circumstance, with suitable quotations from Jeremiah and Samuel placed beneath the figures of the two prophets.⁴ The heads of several of the regicides were set on this gate.

October 20, 1660.—This afternoon, going through London, and calling at Crowe's, the upholsterer's, in St. Bartholomew's, I saw the limbs of some of our new traytors set upon Aldersgate, which was a sad sight to see; and a bloody week this and the last have been, there being ten hanged, drawn, and quartered."—Pepys's Diary.

The gate suffered by the Great Fire, but was soon after repaired and "beautified." The whole fabric was sold, April 22, 1761, for £91, and immediately taken down. John Daye, the printer of Queen Elizabeth's time, dwelt "over Aldersgate," much in the same manner as Cave subsequently did at St. John's. One of the earliest English almanacs, "A Prognostication for the yere of our Lord, 1550," "was imprynted at London by John Daye, dwelling over Aldersgate." He also printed there The Scholemaster of Roger Ascham in 1570, and Tyndal's Works, 1572. Daye carried his works outside the gates, building "much upon the City wall, towards the parish church of St. Anne."—Seymour, Survey, p. 38. In March 1567, Foxe, the martyrologist, was living "at Mr. Daye's, over Aldersgate." John Daye was the printer of his great work.—Life, pp. 132–134. Faithorne, the engraver, "being made prisoner at Basing House, was brought to London and confined in Aldersgate, where he resorted to his profession, and among other heads did a small one of the first Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, in the manner of Mellan."—Walpole, Catalogue of Engravers, p. 49. In the last year of its existence the rooms over the gate were appropriated as "the dwelling of the Common Crier of the City, for the time being." Among the State Papers there is mention of a cage, or prison, situated near the gate.—Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, 1639–1640, p. 496.

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¹ Riley, Memorials, p. 11.
² Riley, p. 388.
³ Liber Albus p. 94.
⁴ Jer. xvii. 25; 1 Sam. xii. 1.