by Dorothee Schröder
Aldgate High Street got its name from one of the gates of the old London Wall dating back to Roman times. There are different explanations of what the name refers to, like Old Gate, Ale Gate due to an alehouse or All Gate because there was free access for everyone. Located on the border of the City of London and the East End, Aldgate High Street connects two different worlds. It runs from the centre of business and finance to Whitechapel, formerly known as one of the poorest parts of London and nowadays home to a large community of immigrants from Bangladesh. So, the street looks like a melting pot of different cultures, where you find old established pubs next to shops selling exotic food or saris. At the western end stands St. Botolph without Aldgate, an Anglican church which was built between 1741 and 1744 to replace the former building that had been destroyed int the Great Fire of London 1666. Next to it there is Aldgate Square, a public space with a central lawn, plants, a water feature, and drinking water fountains. People go there to spend their lunchtime or just to relax and enjoy the sun. Aldgate High Street is linked to other parts of London by two Tube stations, Aldgate and Aldgate East.
Cover picture: St Botolph’s Aldgate & Aldgate Square (Photo: Philipp Röttgers)
