Why Temple Bar Is Worth a Look
If you’re exploring the area around St. Paul’s Cathedral, look for the grand stone archway leading into Paternoster Square. This is Temple Bar, the last surviving gateway of the original eight entrances to the City of London.
The arch once stood where Fleet Street meets the Strand, marking the boundary between the City of London and Westminster. Today, it stands beside St. Paul’s Cathedral, having made an extraordinary journey out of London and back again.
What to Look For at Temple Bar
Walk through the archway and take a moment to look at the four royal statues set into its stonework. You’ll find James I and Anne of Denmark on one side, with Charles I and Charles II on the other.
The gateway was completed in 1672, following the Great Fire of London, and its design is traditionally attributed to Sir Christopher Wren.
But this isn’t simply a reproduction of an old London landmark. Much of the stonework is original, despite the arch having been dismantled, moved to a private estate, and eventually returned to the City.
Why Was Temple Bar Moved?
By the nineteenth century, Temple Bar had become an obstacle to the growing traffic along Fleet Street. In 1878, the gateway was carefully dismantled, with its stones numbered for future reconstruction.
The arch was eventually rebuilt at Theobalds Park in Hertfordshire, where it served as an impressive entrance to a private country estate.
There it remained for more than a century, gradually deteriorating until plans to return it to London finally succeeded.
In 2004, Temple Bar was restored and rebuilt at Paternoster Square, just a short distance from its original location.
Where Was the Original Temple Bar?
If you’re walking along Fleet Street toward the Strand, you can still find a reminder of where Temple Bar originally stood.
Look for the tall stone monument topped by a bronze dragon near the Royal Courts of Justice. It marks the historic boundary where the gateway once controlled ceremonial entry into the City.
It’s an easy detail to miss, but an interesting second stop if you’re exploring Fleet Street’s historic landmarks.
Address: Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7DX
Nearest Station: St. Paul’s
Website: City of London — Temple Bar