Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

A Roman road is known to have entered the city of Durovernum Cantiacorum at the Northgate and it is considered reasonable to assume that there was a Roman gate here that was later demolished. Saxon churches are recorded above Northgate where the 3rd century gate spanned the earlier Reculver Road. The chancel of St Mary Northgate remained above the gate until it was demolished in 1830 with the Northgate.

Monument Types

• GATE (GATE, Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• GATE (GATE, Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1830 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

[TR 15115819] Gate [NR] (Site of) [NAT]. (1) 'Northgate' accepted as Roman. (2) Site of North Gate; destroyed 1925. A church of St Mary over the gate is mentioned in 1401. (3) As a Roman road enters the city at North Gate it is supposed that a Roman gate preceded the medieval North Gate. The church of St Mary Northgate probably originated as a Late Saxon Church immediately above the Roman north gate. (4-6)

<1> OS 1:2500 (OS Card Reference). SKE48196.

<2> Roman Canterbury 1957 9 (S Frere) (OS Card Reference). SKE49328.

<3> Arch J 86 1930 243 270-8 (G Home) (OS Card Reference). SKE36731.

<4> Arch of Canterbury 2 1982 20 101 (SS Frere S Stow and P Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE36841.

<5> Lyle, M., 1994, English Heritage Book of Canterbury (Monograph). SKE29788.

<6> Frere, SS, Stow, S, and Bennett, P, 1982, Excavations on the Roman and Medieval Defences of Canterbury. (Monograph). SKE28530.

Sources and further reading

Related records