Gate Into London
Item
Description
This drawing by Peter Jackson illustrates one of medieval London’s seven gates in the city wall, which dates from Roman times. During the reign of Henry II, seven double gates were added to better protect the city. Jackson’s drawing depicts the gate as much larger than it actually would have been. The image was created for use in the children’s historical magazine Look and Learn, which may explain why the proportions of the gate itself are exaggerated. In the drawing, the gate appears to rise several stories above the city wall. In reality however, the gates were only about one story taller than the wall itself. The small stream flowing underneath the gate depicted in the drawing is not entirely accurate either. Defensive ditches were dug around the perimeter of the wall, but they were not filled with water. In areas close to the Walbrook river the marshes could provide natural defenses, but the ditches were typically kept dry, although they frequently filled with silt and other debris. Other details of the picture, such as the crenelations of the wall, are accurate to contemporary maps of medieval London.
Title
Gate Into London
Creator
Jackson, Peter
Medium
Gouache on paper
Source
"Gate into London." Look and Learn
Notes
There are multiple illustrations by Peter Jackson on Look and Learn titled Gate Into London. The reference number of this particular image is XJ121867.
Location
London wall
Period
Late medieval
Image Category
Modern drawing/painting
Image Source URL
Image Publisher
Look and Learn
Image Right Holder
Look and Learn/ Peter Jackson Collection
Subject
Streets, gates, bridges
Bibliographic Citation
Johnson, Emily. “The London Wall.” Medieval London. 2017.
“London Wall: Section of Roman wall and bastion beneath Crosswall, No. 1 America Square and Fenchurch Street railway station.” Historic England. 2016.
Lyon, Jo. Within these walls. London: Museum of London Archaeology Service, 2007.
Cataloguer
Lewis, Clare
Type
Still Image
