Aldgate Junction (London)

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The site of the Aldgate believed to mean "old gate" which is one of the original eight gates into the City of London.

There was possibly already a gate spanning the road to Colchester, which was once the capital city of England, when the City Wall was built, but the gateway was rebuilt sometime between 1108-47, and again in 1215. It was completely rebuilt again in 1607-9 when Roman coins were found in the foundations, and was finally demolished in 1760 in order to improve traffic access. It was briefly re-erected at Bethnal Green. Its name was often corrupted to Ale-gate or All-gate and meant 'open to all'.

The gate was to be found at the corner of the streets now known as Aldgate and Duke's Palace; Geoffrey Chaucer lived in rooms over the gate between 1374-85 while he was working as a customs official in the Port of London.

The Augustinian Priory of Holy Trinity Aldgate was built just inside the gate, and assured the gateway's continued importance. The Priory was founded by Henry I's wife Queen Matilda in 1108. The ground level had already risen seven feet from Roman times.

The others being:-
Aldersgate.
Bishopsgate
Cripplegate
Ludgate
Moorgate
Newgate, and
Traitors Gate