Wheeler Verulamium Excavations, 1930 (Neg 49, Volume 3): The south east gate (the London Gate) fully excavated.
Large gateways controlled the four main entrances to Verulamium. The best preserved of these is the London Gate, also known as the South East Gate. The foundations of the London gate are still marked out for viewing today. This was where Watling Street entered the town. The foundations show that the gateway had four entrances – two for wheeled vehicles, and two for pedestrians.
Either side of the entrances stood a semi-circular projecting tower. These could have held troops, officials or militia involved in the process of controlling access into the town. The exact height of the gateway and its towers are unknown, but the solid foundations would have allowed for at least two floors in the towers.
Just beyond the London gate lies a major ditch. This seems to be part of the defensive boundary built in the late third century, but it could be part of the town’s earlier second century defenses which was re-used. To the east of the gateway now lies open ground, but excavations carried out in the vicinity when the running track was built have shown that a large roman cemetery once stood here.
