West Gate - Canterbury, Kent, UK
N 51° 16.888 E 001° 04.535
31U E 365788 N 5682884
The West Gate is on the west side of central Canterbury and allows both vehicular and pedestrian access to and from the city centre. A branch of the River Stour flows north/south to the immediate west of the West Gate and is crossed by a bridge.
Waymark Code: WM13CH3
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/08/2020
Views: 1
Canterbury was a
walled city and this was one of seven gates that allowed access through
the city walls in to and out of the city. The gate stands sixty feet
high and is the largest surviving city gate in England. It has served a
number of purposes, as explained in the extract below.
The road splits at
the West Gate. Traffic entering the city passes through the arch in the
centre of the gate and traffic moving west, out of the city, passes to
the south of the gate. Footpaths pass each side of the West Gate
for pedestrians.
The Britain
Express website tells us:
One
of the iconic landmarks of Canterbury, the old West Gate stands at
the west end of the High Street, beside the River Stour. Generations
of medieval pilgrims passed under the gatehouse arch on their way to
the shrine of Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Road traffic
now flows through the arch - its a bit of an eye-opener to see a
modern coach navigate the narrow opening!
The
West Gate was built by Archbishop Sudbury to replace an earlier
Roman gate through the city walls. The West Gate was finished in
1380, but in the following year Sudbury himself met a vioent end at
the hands of rebellious peasants during Wat Tyler's Peasant's
Revolt.
For
many years the West Gate served as the town prison, connected by a
walkway to the police station next door. Above the portcullis slot
is a 'condemned cell', where prisoners awaiting execution were held.
A
bronze 18th century medallion was found beneath the floorboards of
the prison floor during recent repairs.
The
upper floor of the gatehouse is given over to a small West Gate
Museum. Here you will find armour and weapons used by defenders of
Canterbury from the medieval period to World War II. Children can
dress up in replica armour, and see the old prison cells within the
gatehouse tower.
Immediately
beside the tower is a lovely riverside garden, where you can take a
punt tour along the River Stour.