287 



lotljev §msB at tlje ftame of Can pill 



To the Editor of the Wiltshire Magazine. 

 Dear Sir, 



*>OME little time ago I was reading the accounts of the Clerk of 

 ^'^'' theFabricofSarum Cathedral from 1558 to 1600,and amongst 

 other entries there occurred the repairs of the various gates of the 

 Close. The following are the names given to the gates. The 

 Northe gate, the Close gate, Harneham, Harnam (1579), Bogmore, 

 Seynt Anne's gate, St. Anne's gate, Sin tan gatte (1579), tangate, 

 (1583) tanegate (1585). 



Now at present there are three gates to the Close which are under 

 the control of the Dean and Chapter, and with a little investigation, 

 the above names will be found to suit these three gates. Thus the 

 first two are identified in one place thus, " The Northe gate callyd 

 the close gate." This would be the one now commonly known as 

 High Street gate, and was no doubt called The Close gate as being 

 the most important. It is built across what once was the principal 

 street of the city, called of old times " hyghe strete alias Mynster 

 Street," which leads from Old Sarum. Through this gate all the 

 processions entered the Close and passed on to the Great West 

 Door. This is done to this day at the enthronization of a Bishop, 

 and marks still the pre-eminence of this gate. 



Harnham gate still bears the name and does not seem to have 

 had any other. 



Bogmore gate seems strange at first ; but there is but one gate 

 chargeable to the fabric fund of the Cathedral which abuts upon 

 the part known by that name ; and this gate is that now known as 

 S. Ann's gate. The name Bogmore gate occurs only once, viz : 

 in 1591, when perhaps the scribe may have had scruples about 

 giving it the ancient name. 



There now remain for consideration the last five names ; and 



