London (England) -- Description and travel; London (England) -- History -- 16th century -- Sources; London (England) -- Surveys
The next is Ebgate,[58] a water-gate, so called of old time, as
appeareth by divers records of tenements near unto the same adjoining.
It standeth near unto the church of St. Laurence Pountney, but is within
the parish of St. Marten Ordegare. In place of this gate is now a narrow
passage to the Thames, and is called Ebgate lane, but more commonly the
Old Swan.
Then is there a water-gate at the bridge foot, called Oyster gate, of
oysters that were there of old time, commonly to be sold, and was the
chiefest market for them and for other shell-fishes. There standeth now
an engine or forcier, for the winding up of water to serve the city,
whereof I have already spoken.
BRIDGE GATE
The next is the Bridge gate, so called of London Bridge, whereon it
standeth. This was one of the four first and principal gates of the
city, long before the Conquest, when there stood a bridge of timber,
and is the seventh and last principal gate mentioned by W. Fitzstephen;
which gate being new[59] made, when the bridge was built was built
of stone, hath been oftentimes since repaired. This gate, with the
tower upon it, in the year 1436 fell down, and two of the farthest
arches southwards also fell therewith, and no man perished or was hurt
therewith. To the repairing whereof, divers wealthy citizens gave large
sums of money; namely, Robert Large, sometime mayor, one hundred marks;
Stephen Forster, twenty pounds; Sir John Crosbye, alderman, one hundred
pounds, etc. But in the year 1471,[60] the Kentish mariners, under the
conduct of bastard Fauconbridge, burned the said gate and thirteen
houses on the bridge, besides the Beer houses at St. Katherine’s, and
many others in the suburbs.
The next is Buttolphe’s gate, so called of the parish church of St.
Buttolph, near adjoining. This gate was sometimes given or confirmed
by William Conqueror to the monks of Westminster in these words: “W.
rex Angliæ, etc., William, king of England, sendeth greeting to the
sheriffes, and all his ministers, as also to all his loving subjects,
French and English, of London: Know ye that I have granted to God and
St. Peter of Westminster, and to the abbot Vitalis, the gift which
Almundus of the port of S. Buttolph gave them, when he was there made
monke: that is to say, his Lords court with the houses, and one wharf,
which is at the head of London bridge, and all other his lands which he
had in the same city, in such sort as King Edward more beneficially and
amply granted the same; and I will and command that they shall enjoy
the same well and quietly and honourably, with sake and soke, etc.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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