By Abbey Wells
The Temple Bar was a gate that acted as the ceremonial entrance to the City of London. Originally, the purpose of the gate was to regulate trade. The Temple Bar was located between the Strand and Fleet Street. César de Saussure described the gate as having “four statues in niches”. Merchants would set up stalls near the gate. Additionally, the monarchs would use the gate when entering the City of London.
De Saussure described the important ceremonial function of the gate. “When any proclamation has to be made of peace or of war, of the death of a king or the accession of his successor to the throne, the Herald-at-Arms and his officers find the gate closed: they knock at it thrice, and my Lord Mayor, who is on the other side with his alderman, inquires ‘Who is there?’” The officers would respond that they had orders to make a vital announcement. De Saussure continues, “The Lord Mayor then consults his alderman as to whether they can consent or not, and as you may believe the answer is never in the negative” (72-73).
Sources:
César de Saussure. A Foreign View of England in the Reigns of George I and George II, translated and edited by Madame van Muyden. London: J. Murray, 1902.
The current Temple Bar, located at the entrance to Paternoster Sqaure.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia