The Temple Bar Gate, Paternoster Square, London May 26th 2017

Facing the gate from Paternoster square.

We keep passing this gate time and again, without knowing its' signifance to London's history. But this morning's breakfast made us appreciate it just a wee bit more. Recognising its' beauty in between modern buildings kind of opened our eyes a bit.

A bit of London history

The Temple Bar is the only surving gateway to the city of London, where it once stood at the junction where the Strand meets Fleet St for more than 200 years. 

The old gate survived the the Great Fire of 1666, but had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1669. Charles II had it rebuilt with highly prized Portland stone from the Royal quarries in Dorset.

In 1878, the Temple Bar was dismantled to widen the roadway to relieve the heavy traffic. It was rebuilt in 1889 to form a grand entrance at Theobalds Park country estate. 

In 1976, the Temple Bar Trust was established with the intention of returning it to London and in 2004, it was again dismantled and rebuilt  as a gateway to the central piazza at the Paternoster Square, opposite St. Paul's Cathedral.

Walking towards the gate from St. Paul's entrance.

Trivia: During the 18th century, the Temple Bar was used to display the heads of traitors on iron spikes which protruded from the top of the main arch.

www.thetemplebar.info/history.html

All images are mine, taken with my Samsung Galaxy S7.