York Watergate

The York Watergate stands as a stone relic from a time when the River Thames served as the primary highway of London. Built in sixteen twenty-six, this ornate archway originally functioned as the private riverfront entrance to York House, a grand mansion owned by the Duke of Buckingham. High-ranking residents would step directly from their boats into the garden of their estate, avoiding the muddy and congested streets of the city entirely. If you look closely at the top of the structure, you can still see the carved coat of arms of the Buckingham family, commemorating the Duke's role as the Lord High Admiral.