One of the City gates, in the City wall on its western side, north of Ludgate, in Farringdon Ward (S. 35).
Stow says it was erected about the time of Henry I. or Stephen, but recent excavations made at the time of the demolition of the old prison and the erection of the new Sessions house prove that the original gate, of which a plinth and other remains were found, was of Roman construction and that it was in all probability the main gate in the western wall, Ludgate being a postern merely, and of later construction (Arch. ix. 130, ib. seq.).
The Roman gate seems to have measured 31 feet in width from east to west. Traces of the Roman ditch have also been found, 70 feet wide.
It seems to have been called in early times "Chamberlain's Gate," for in a MS. of the D. and C. St. Paul's, 1285, mention is made of " Sancti Sepulchri extra Chamb'leingate" (Lib. L. fo. 93). We know from Domesday Book that William the Chamberlain had a vineyard at Holeburn, and this may help to explain the origin of this name.
A charter by Burghred of Mercia, A.D. 857, set out in Kemble, CCLXXX., but marked as spurious, granted to Alhunus bishop "aliquam parvam portionem libertatis cum consensu consiliatorum meorum gugiferi agelluli in vico Lundonie hoc est ubi nominatur Ceolmundingehaga qui est non longe de ' Uuestgetum' positus sibi episcopo in propriam libertatem ad habendum vel ad Uuergerna civitate pertinentem," etc. If this charter can be held to relate to London, it would suggest "Westgate" as the original name of Newgate, but it seems probable that, if genuine, it does not necessarily relate to London at all, but to "Lundenwic," i.e. Sandwich, in Kent.
The Roman origin of Newgate being ascertained, it is quite possible that it may have undergone considerable repair in the time of Henry I. or Stephen, or perhaps after the great fire of 1137, when it may have been entirely rebuilt and so acquired the designation of " Newgate," by which name the prison is referred to in the Pipe Roll, 34 H. II.
It was again rebuilt, temp. H. V. (Cal. L. Bk. K. p.140).
Again repaired 1555-6 and 1630. Destroyed by the Fire 1666 and rebuilt 1672 stronger and more convenient than before (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. I. 19).
Gate removed 1777 (Encycl. Lond. 106). Wheatley says 1767.