Temple Bar is a historic ceremonial entrance between the City of Westminster and the City of London, where monarchs traditionally paused so the Lord Mayor could present the Sword of State. The gates could be closed during civil unrest or to control trade, but the original gatehouse became inconvenient as traffic increased, leading to its dismantling in 1878 and the stones being sold. The building later returned to London in 2004 after being rebuilt near St Paul’s Cathedral. On 22 May 2026 at 11am, the Master of the Gates will oil the hinges at Temple Bar with ceremonial participants present, declaring the gates in good working order.
"This Friday will see the ceremonial "Oiling of the Gates" at Temple Bar, because apparently even symbolic city defences need a bit of WD-40 now and then. Temple Bar, which once stood where the Royal Courts of Justice are today, was the principal ceremonial entrance between the City of Westminster and the City of London. Traditionally, when the monarch visited the City, they paused where Temple Bar stood, so the Lord Mayor could present the Sword of State as a token of loyalty."
"And no, despite what every London tour guide loves to imply, the monarch did not need permission to enter the City. That's a myth - albeit an annoyingly persistent one usually cited by conspiracy theorists. The gates themselves, however, could genuinely be closed during times of civil unrest or to control trade. By the 1850s, having a great hulking gatehouse sitting in the middle of an increasingly busy road had become somewhat inconvenient for traffic, so in 1878 it was dismantled and the stones sold to brewer Henry Meux for his estate at Theobalds Park."
"In 2004, the building returned to London when it was rebuilt at its current location, next to St Paul's Cathedral. And this Friday (22nd May 2026) at 11am, accompanied by the historic pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company and livery company masters in full ceremonial robes, the Master of the Gates will solemnly oil the hinges before declaring the gates to be in good working order."
"The ceremony is intended to ensure that the gates at Temple Bar are still in working order and, if they were still at their historic location, capable of being shut to bar entry into the City of London."
#temple-bar #city-of-london-traditions #ceremonial-events #historic-gates #honourable-artillery-company
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