THE GRIM GATE OF LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 19

THE GRIM GATE OF LONDON

Details of an interesting if somewhat grim relic of old London were sent recently to "John o' London's Weekly by the Rev. Henry A. Reed, of Buffalo, New York. This relic, which is now to be, seen by ,the curious in Buffalo,:, is one of the iron-bound gates of Newgate Prison,1 through which condemned men passed to-their death. The account forwarded by Mr. Heed is as follows:—----"Of massive ironbound oak, and riveted lattice construction, the galeweighs over 18001b. It is fitted with heavy, two-foot bolts and an old Braham lock that measures 21in by 14in. The key that operates this lock is itsejf heavy enough to be used as a weapon, and the intricate construction of Ihe lock is capable of defying even the most expert modern locksmith should he try to open "it without the key.

"Readers of the works of Charles Dickens- will find a reference-to this old gate in the story of Oliver Twist.

At nearly the.end of the 'ooor:, when Fagin is confined in Newgate Prison, Oliver is taken to visit him. The gaoler pauses to point down the passage way through which Fagin will have to pass later, and Oliver sees the light corning through the lattice of the gate.

"Up to 18G8 executions took place outside the gate lacing Old Bailey. The last occasion on which the gate opened for an execution was on May 26, 1868, when Michael Barrett was hanged for complicity in the •'Cle'rkenwell 'explosion. An idea of the^number of limes the;old gate swung can be gained frojn the statement :that 72,000 criminals were .executed" in the reign of Henry VIII alone. ■ •.■■-■■•

"When-the old landmark was. being finally removed in 1903, Mr. More (the owner of a store in Buffalo) was in London and attended the .auctions that disposed of some.of the relics.- He-pur-chased this gate and shipped it to America."