, or Ealdgate, (which signifies Old Gate,) was situate adjoining to , and was of the original gates of the city, and that through which the Roman vicinal way led to the , or ferry at Old-ford. The earliest mention we can find of it, is in a charter granted by king Edgar, about the year .

This gate being in a very ruinous condition, was pulled down in the year , and re-built; but it was not completed till

In digging the foundation, several Roman coins were discovered, resemblances of of which Mr. Bond, of the surveyors of the work, caused to be cut in stone, and placed on each aide of the east front, where they remained till the demolition of the gate.

In a large square, on the same side of the gate, was placed the statue of king James I. in gilt armour, with a golden lion, and a chained unicorn, both couchant at his feet.

On the west side of the gate was a figure of Fortune, gilt, and standing on a globe, with a prosperous sail spreading over her head; under which was carved the king's arms, with the motto,

Dieu et mon droit

Vivat Rex

On the north side of the gate was the figure of Charity, with a child at her breast, and another in her hand.

On the top of the gate was a vane, supported by a gilt sphere; on each ride of which stood a soldier holding a bullet in his hand, on the top of the upper battlements.

Over the arch of the gate were carved the following words:

Senatus Populusque Londinensis,

Fecit,

1609

,

HUMPHREY WELD, Maior.

There were posterns through this gate; that on the south side of which was made as late as the year . There was likewise

In the neighbourhood of this gate, lived and died the able historian of the city, John Stowe.

On the south side of , opposite the pump, among other large and handsome houses was , sometime belonging to the prior of Monte Jovis or , (Horn-church) in Essex. It was the prior's inn when he came to London.

A little to the north of St. James's church, in Duke's Place, is a jews' synagogue, which has been so enlarged as almost to join the church.

Besides this there are other synagogues in this ward; a Portuguese near the north end of , by Londonwall; in , for Hamburgh Jews, and a in a building which was formerly Bricklayers'-hall, situate behind the houses that are nearly opposite to St. Catherine Cree-church, and which was new built in ; over the entrance from are the Bricklayers'-arms.

All those synagogues are of plain exterior, being built of brick; the interiors are handsomely fitted up with galleries, gilt and decorated in a fanciful style.

The west wall of the synagogue in Duke's Place, is railed, and contains the , where are deposited the sacred volumes, which are taken out and re-placed with great ceremony.

Over this on the wall, are painted in Hebrew characters, without points, the commandments.

In the front of this building, over the porch, is a large hall purposely appointed for the celebration of the wedding of poor Jews. A considerable degree of ceremony is always attached to these connubial contracts, and that the poorer classes may not be prejudiced by the expence, the whole society assist them by a subscription.