Temple Bar

The last surviving example of one of the original gateways to the City of London, the grand arch of Temple Bar was once located at the junction of Strand and Fleet Street. The boundaries of the city were more defined in times past, and eight original gateways existed throughout the city to mark its main entryways. Through the work of many helping hands Temple Bar survived the years, but the rest were not so lucky, and all of its brethren were demolished by the end of the 18th century as the city expanded.

This iteration of the Temple Bar gateway was built between 1669-72 as the western gate of the city of London to Westminster. However, a gate was located at Fleet Street from as early as the 13th century. The first version is thought to have been a simple chain stretched between two timber bars to denote the entrance, giving Temple Bar its name. Years later, in 1666, the Great Fire of London swept the city, and all previous versions where removed as the city was rebuilt, bringing about the gate that exists today.

Commissioned by King Charles II, the current Temple Bar is attributed to Sir Christopher Wren. King Charles II wanted his parents and grandparents statues on the gate, and these were carved into the upper niches.

By tradition the monarch could not pass through Temple Bar on official business without first receiving an escort from the Mayor of London. In its original location, it bore witness to many ceremonies, grand entries, and some grimmer parts of history. During the 18th century a row of iron spikes atop the main arch were used to display the heads of executed traitors.

By the 19th century, it became clear that Temple Bar could not remain in its original location, as it created a bottleneck for traffic. This led to its first relocation, and it was painstakingly taken down piece by piece over an 11-day period. Each stone was numbered, and eventually pieced back together to spend a number of years in the country estate of Theobalds Park in Hertfordshire. Lady Meux of Theobalds Park was said to have entertained a variety of well-known figures in the chamber above the arch, including Edward VII and Winston Churchill.

Finally, in 1976, Hugh Wontner, the Lord Mayor, established the Temple Bar Trust, with the aim of returning the Bar to the City. They eventually succeeded, and in 1984 the Temple Bar Trust became the owner of Temple Bar, and were granted permission for the removal of the Bar from Theobalds Park. The reconstruction and restoration of Temple Bar was completed in 2004, and Temple Bar was brought back to the City of London. The total cost of the project was over £3 million.

It can now been seen standing as an entrance to Paternoster Square, next to St Paul’s Cathedral. However its former location on Fleet Street was not forgotten, and the Temple Bar Memorial pedestal, crowned by a sculpture of a dragon, now stands to greet visitors to the city.