One of the original gates of the town, built in the late 13th century and giving access to the port.
This lay along the River Brede, which was larger than now. The old walls, which crowned the top of the cliff have disappeared. The portcullis grooves can still be seen.
The view of the town from the field below the gate was used by Sir John Everett Millais as the background for his painting “The Blind Girl”. The gate is mentioned in Thackeray’s unfinished novel “Denis Duval”, which provides an interesting description of life in the town during the latter half of the 18th century.
This gate is scheduled (1002306) as an Ancient Monument by Historic England, which oversees all matters pertaining to it.
