The word ‘gate’, derived from the former word ‘gat’, meaning path or road, was originally used to refer to the gap in a wall or fence (used for an entrance). Now, it’s typically used to refer to the barrier which closes that gap or hole.
Gates are mostly used to allow, or prevent, the entry to, or exit from a building or space.
They can also come in many styles and shapes, adding decorative elements to a mundane purpose.
Gates can be found in a variety of places, including houses, public halls, schools, cemeteries, churches and farms.
History of Gates
In mediaeval times, only the royals would have gates fitted - mostly in order to protect their castles and palaces. Gates would also be found (as they sometimes are now) at the entrance to certain towns and villages.
There were many gates in historic London, each with a unique history behind it: Aldgate, Aldersgate, Moor Gate and Bishops Gate are all famous gates which made getting to and from certain parts of London a little easier for travellers. Each of these gates had their own direction of traffic flow, and were each carefully architecturally designed with symbols and crests to present signs of history.
Unfortunately, the total 7 gates of the City were demolished around the late 1700s, in order to accommodate road widenings across the ever-expanding capital.
The City gates were mostly made from brickwork, as opposed to iron railing.
The 15th century would see the first appearances of iron railings, as a result of blast furnaces in manufacturing.
During the Victorian era, the demand for decorative cast iron increased in Great Britain, as well as South Australia and America. This cast iron would replace the popularity of wrought iron mouldings because of its comparably lower costs and increased flexibility.
The boom of these decorative gates and railings presented a wide range of design outcomes, from simple and classic to more detailed and complex casts. As mentioned, these gates and their designs would reflect ‘the wealth and opulence of the times’.
In 1901, after the death of Queen Victoria, gates and railings would continue to feature across the fronts of Edwardian townhouses in more traditional, humble designs.
Gates Today
Today, a wider range of materials can be used for gates. For home entrance and main gates, the most common are: stainless steel, recycled wrought iron or aluminium. They can also be found in wood or timber, and with metal trims.
Gates are still frequently found at the front of terraced and semi-detached houses across London - wicket gates are often present at family homes around the UK, commonly made from wood or aluminium (plus the occasional original iron gate from previous eras).
Less densely-populated areas are more likely to see detached houses with larger entrance gates.
Gates at 1st Option
At 1st Option, we have a brilliant selection of locations with multiple different types of gates.
These beautiful gates make fantastic features for a range of creative photoshoots and filming projects, ranging from period to modern lifestyle.
For gates which are impressively grand and in a more classic style, take a look at Ambleside in Hatfield, Purley in West Berkshire and Oxfordshire’s Newington.
For some incredible gates that have historic value, such as the 7 gates of London mentioned earlier on, take a look at the fantastic Faberge and The Cube in London.