Newgate, Roman city gate in City of London, England
Newgate was a city gate in Roman London consisting of two square towers with a double roadway passage running between them. The towers served as guard rooms and controlled access to the city through the fortification wall.
The Romans built the gate around 200 CE as part of the London Wall and it remained in operation for nearly 1,600 years. The city authorities demolished it in 1767 to improve traffic flow in the growing city.
The area kept its name even though the gate itself has been gone for more than 250 years. The street passing through the old opening remained a busy route for daily traffic in central London.
The spot where the gate once stood can be found today on Newgate Street, which forms part of the A40 route. Visitors can read the name on street signs and in the surrounding area, but nothing remains visible of the original Roman structure.
Archaeologists discovered a Roman roof tile during excavations with an inscription about someone named Austalis who went missing for thirteen days. This personal message from ancient times offers a rare glimpse into the everyday life of Roman Londoners.
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