Everything about Cripplegate totally explained
Cripplegate was a
city gate in
London Wall and a name for the region of the
City of London outside the gate. It was almost entirely destroyed by bombing in
World War II and today is the site of the
Barbican Estate and
Barbican Centre. The name is preserved in the church of
St Giles Cripplegate, and in the Cripplegate
ward of the City, while a street named Cripplegate lies slightly to the north of the site of the wall.
History
Cripplegate stood at the northern end of what is now Wood Street at the junction of St Alphage Gardens. It was already in place when the
city wall was built, as it was the northern gate of a Roman fort which was built in
120 AD. The northern and western walls formed part of the new wall, although these defences were completely rebuilt in early medieval times. Like a number of its sister gates, it was used as a prison for part of its life, being leased for accommodation at other times.
The gate gave access to a substantial medieval suburb and to the village of
Islington. Extra defensive works on the northern site outside the gate gave rise to the name 'barbican' (or outer fortification of the City), which was then taken as the name for the post World War II rebuilding of the area. It originally only led into the fort and became a gate into the City when the fort was demolished.
In 1244 it was rebuilt by the Brewers Company, and then rebuilt again in 1491, had alterations in 1663 and when it was finally demolished in 1760 so that the street could be widened. The materials were sold to a local carpenter for £91.
During World War II the Cripplegate area was virtually demolished and by 1951 the resident population of the City stood at only 5,324 of whom 48 lived in Cripplegate. Discussions began in 1952 about the future of the site, and the decision to build new residential properties was taken by the Court of Common Council on
19 September 1957. The area was reopened as the
Barbican Estate in 1969.
Name
The name of the gate has obscure origins. It could be that it's so-called because of the cripples who used to beg there, although this is unsubstantiated. The body of St
Edmund the Martyr was said to have been carried through it in 1010 on its way from
Bury St Edmunds to St Gregory's church to save it from the Danes. Lydgate, a monk of Bury, claimed that the body cured many lame peasants as it passed through the gate. Alternatively 'Cripplegate' could be from the Anglo-Saxon term
crepel, meaning a covered way or underground passage.
Politics
Cripplegate is one of twenty-five
wards in the City of London, each electing an
alderman, to the
Court of Aldermen and
commoners (the City equivalent of a
councillor) to the
Court of Common Council of the
City of London Corporation. Only electors who are
Freemen of the City of London are eligible to stand.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cripplegate'.
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