Roddick Gates

Roddick Gates is a neoclassical portico at Sherbrooke Street West serving as the main entrance to McGill University, featuring four mounted clocks and bells integrated into the design. The structure spans between two large stone pillars connected by a column-supported passage that opens toward the campus.

Lady Amy Redpath Roddick donated the gates in 1924 as a memorial to her late husband Sir Thomas George Roddick, a distinguished Dean of Medicine at the university. This gift came during a period when McGill was expanding its physical presence and landmark buildings on campus.

The gates mark a symbolic boundary between Montreal's streets and the university campus, functioning as a visual landmark that people pass through daily. This architectural threshold shapes how visitors perceive the transition from city to academic grounds.

The four clocks and bells underwent restoration in 2010 and continue to mark time for visitors and students passing through. The location is easily accessible on foot via Sherbrooke Street, a major thoroughfare with clear visibility from nearby areas.

The Seth Thomas clocks and Meneely bells come from renowned American manufacturers known for equipping buildings in the 19th century. These components give the gates a recognizable signature and connect them to a broader history of architectural craftsmanship.

Location: Montreal

GPS coordinates: 45.50361,-73.57472

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:55