Bishopsgate
The ancient road known as Ermine Street stretched from London to York long before any wall existed. Roman engineers built the first gate at this eastern point during the second or third centuries. Tradition attributes the name Bishopsgate to Earconwald, who served as Bishop of London in the 7th century. This saint is also called the Light of London and restored the gate after earlier damage. One ward church named St Ethelburga-the-Virgin honors his sister, the first Abbess of Barking Abbey. The gate marked the boundary where the city ended and the wild countryside began. It stood as a defensive structure protecting the settlement from invaders approaching from the north.
Londoners traditionally divided the area into two parts separated by the line of the old wall. Bishopsgate Within sat inside the former fortification while Bishopsgate Without lay beyond it. Modern administrative reviews in 1994 and 2013 fundamentally altered these historic extents. The 1994 changes transferred nearly all of Bishopsgate Within to other wards except for a small area near Leathersellers' livery hall. A significant portion of Moorfields moved from Hackney to become part of Bishopsgate Without. Blomfield Street now forms the western boundary of the outer section. These revisions mean the current ward borders no longer match their ancient geographical definitions.
Passengers setting out on Ermine Street found lodging at many coaching inns along this route. The Black Bull hosted the Queen's Men theatrical troupe during the 16th century. Anthony Bacon moved nearby with his mother in May 1594 and complained about plays corrupting his servants. Other inns included the Angel, the Dolphin, the Green Dragon, and the White Hart. All these structures survived the Great Fire of London before eventually being demolished. The Catherine Wheel inn disappeared in 1911 but left its name on Catherine Wheel Alley. Sir Paul Pindar built a grand residence here that later became a tavern called Sir Paul Pindar's Head.
Bishopsgate functions as one of twenty-five wards within the City of London Corporation. Each ward elects an Alderman to the Court of Aldermen and Commoners to the Court of Common Council. Only Freemen of the City are eligible to stand for election. On the 15th of September 2022 the ward elected Kawsar Zaman as its Alderman. He became the first British-Bangladeshi person to hold the office in hundreds of years. His election marked him as the youngest ever chosen to the Court of Alderman. The ward maintains a resident population of only 222 people according to 2011 figures despite thousands commuting daily.
In 1471 Bastard Fauconberg attacked the eastern gates with five thousand men during the Wars of the Roses. Bishopsgate was set on fire by these attackers who came close to capturing nearby Aldgate. The Hansa merchants rebuilt the gate in exchange for trading privileges after this conflict. A more devastating event occurred on the 24th of April 1993 when an IRA truck bombing killed journalist Ed Henty. Over forty people were injured and damage reached £1 billion including destruction of St Ethelburga's church. Police received a coded warning but were still evacuating the area when the explosion happened. The site now hosts the St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace charity.
The street called Bishopsgate serves as the main thoroughfare between Gracechurch Street and Norton Folgate. It takes its name from the historical gate but predates the London Wall construction. Modern development includes Broadgate Tower and Heron Tower rising above the historic landscape. Liverpool Street station dominates the area after opening in 1874 and expanding in 1891. Around 3,000 residents of Bishopsgate Without lost their homes to railway tracks feeding into the new station. The Victoria and Albert Museum preserves the frontage of Sir Paul Pindar's house demolished during expansion. Tens of thousands of people commute to work here while only 222 remain as permanent residents.
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Common questions
When was Bishopsgate originally built by Roman engineers?
Roman engineers constructed the first gate at this eastern point during the second or third centuries. The ancient road known as Ermine Street stretched from London to York long before any wall existed.
Who is the saint associated with the name of Bishopsgate?
Tradition attributes the name Bishopsgate to Earconwald who served as Bishop of London in the 7th century. This saint is also called the Light of London and restored the gate after earlier damage.
What happened to Bishopsgate During the Wars of the Roses in 1471?
Bastard Fauconberg attacked the eastern gates with five thousand men during the Wars of the Roses in 1471. Bishopsgate was set on fire by these attackers who came close to capturing nearby Aldgate.
Who became the Alderman for Bishopsgate on the 15th of September 2022?
On the 15th of September 2022 the ward elected Kawsar Zaman as its Alderman. He became the first British-Bangladeshi person to hold the office in hundreds of years.
When did an IRA truck bombing occur at Bishopsgate and what were the consequences?
A more devastating event occurred on the 24th of April 1993 when an IRA truck bombing killed journalist Ed Henty. Over forty people were injured and damage reached £1 billion including destruction of St Ethelburga's church.