Plymouth, Town Gates

PLYMOUTH
DATA

The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

TOWN GATES

Gates with drawbridges were provided in the town wall at various points on main roadways. These were often the last part of the wall to be removed or demolished.

The gates in a clockwise direction from the Barbican were:-

Barbican or South Gate: removed in 1831.

Hoe Gate: the last to be removed, in 1863. Strenuous efforts were made to preserve Hoe Gate, which had become the property of a Mr T W Fox. However, he could not be persuaded and sold the materials for £44.

Hoe Gate looking from the north (Hoegate Street) Hoe Gate looking from the south (The Hoe)

Hoe Gate from the north (Hoegate Street) and from the south (the Hoe)

Frankfort or West Gate: although rebuilt in 1661, was removed in 1783. When the expansion of road traffic led to the removal of this gate, a tablet was inserted into the walls of the Globe Hotel, which was inscribed:

Near this Place Formerly Stood FRANKFORT GATE
which with others Formed the Principle Entrances into
the TOWN then Inclosed by a Wall Erected for the greater
Protection thereof by the MAYOR and COMMONALTY
Under the Authority of the CHARTER of HENRY the VI.
But in course of Years this Mode of defence Ceasing to be
of any Effect, the GATE was taken down in 1783 and
the Streets and Avenues adjoining Considerably
Widened and Improved: This TABLET was put up
By order of the MAYOR and COMMONALTY
1st June 1813.

Old Town Gate: the first gate here was destroyed by the French (Bretons) in 1379. It was rebuilt but destroyed several more time. The last one was built in 1759 and removed in 1809.

Gasking, Gascoigne or Gascoyne's Gate was removed in 1768 in order to widen the main road from the Town to Exeter. A commemorative tablet was erected:

Near this Spot stood a GATE called
GASCOYNE'S GATE, and which for the
Purpose of throwing open and widening the
STREET, was taken down in the Year 1768,
and to Commemorate the same this TABLET
was put up by order of the MAYOR, and
COMMONALTY, 4th June, 1817.

Friary Gate: removed 1763.

Martyn's Gate: although inside the wall was not demolished until 1789 following an accident to one of the servants of the royal princes, who was injured while passing through it in a carriage. The cost of its removal was raised by public subscription.

Coxside or East or New Gate: removed shortly after 1809. This was known as New Gate in the early seventeenth century and stood near Jory's Almshouses.