Building    From 120  To 1760

Cripplegate

Categories: London Wall

Cripplegate was originally the northern entrance to the Roman fort, built c.AD120. This Roman gate probably remained in use until at least the late Saxon period when it is mentioned in 10th and 11th century documents. The gate was rebuilt in the 1490's. Throughout its history Cripplegate had a variety of uses. It was leased as accommodation and also, like the more famous Newgate, used as a prison.

After the restoration of Charles II in 1660 all of the City gates were unhinged and the portcullises wedged open making ceremonial entrances before being demolished.

Cripplegate gave access to a substantial medieval suburb and of the village of Islington. Extra defensive works outside the gate gave rise to the name Barbican which was subsequently taken as the name for the post-WW2 rebuilding of the area.

The information above comes from an information board about the London Wall, at the Cripplegate site.

Cripplegate would have been across Wood Street at the site of the plaque with London Wall extending from it, to the east and to the west.

Cripplegate was demolished in 1760. Temple Bar was the last gate to be demolished, in 1878. The others were: Aldgate, Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Ludgate, Moorgate and Newgate.

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Cripplegate

Commemorated ati

Cripplegate

Site of Cripplegate, demolished 1760. Corporation of the City of London

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Other Subjects

London Wall

London Wall

This Alan Eisen flickr page will take you on a walk of the Wall, showing many of the blue-bordered plaques. The Museum of London created a 2 mile long London Wall Walk in 1983, marked with 23 love...

Building, London Wall, Romans

6 memorials
Newgate

Newgate

Newgate was the western exit through the Roman London Wall. In later years the gate house was about 100 feet wide. Part of this building was used, from at least the 12th century, as a prison and th...

Building, London Wall

1 memorial
Aldersgate

Aldersgate

Sometimes used as a prison and to display the remains of gruesomely executed traitors. Taken down and rebuilt in 1617, damaged in the Great Fire of 1666 but not finally removed until 1761, to impro...

Building, London Wall

1 memorial
Bishopsgate

Bishopsgate

Originally Roman, rebuilt in 1471, again in 1735 and then demolished in 1760. See British History On-line for a drawing of the last gate). See Cripplegate for the full list of 8 gates of old London.

Building, London Wall

1 memorial
Aldgate

Aldgate

Originally a Roman gate it was rebuilt a number of times:  1108–47, 1215, 1607-09. As a customs official Chaucer lived in the rooms above the gate, 1374-1386. The Cass Charity school used the upper...

Building, London Wall

2 memorials