Broadgate

Also known as St Michael's Gate, this was the main entrance gate to Cathedral Close, and dates from 1286. Although it was one of the three widest gates leading into the close, it was still only 3 meters wide. In the 16th century, Hooker noted that it was sometimes called Fissand, meaning a narrow fissure. In the early 19th century, just before it was demolished it was described as a filthy quagmire. Like many gates in the city, it had accommodation built in - Broadgate was used for housing members of the cathedral staff including the main gatekeeper for the close, whose duties included removing undesirables, including females, from the close at night. In 1815, it was also the residence of the Cathedral Scavenger, who cleared animal dung and rubbish, and the Lamplighter.

In 1778 several images of Roman gods were said to have been found under a house at Broadgate, indicating that there had been a Roman household shrine at that spot. Edward Upham occupied a shop at Broadgate in 1801 when he offered Cary's New English Atlas for sale.

Although one of the widest of the seven gates, it started to prove to be a hindrance to stage coaches entering the close heading to the Royal Clarence Hotel. The manager of the hotel petitioned the Cathedral authorities in the early 19th century to have the gate removed after a coach had hit the side of the gate, resulting in the horses panicking and breaking away to gallop along the road to the Royal Clarence leaving the passengers stranded. By 1823 plans were afoot to deal with Broadgate, and a letter in the Flying Post from "One of the Old School" expressed the view that the old gate should not be vandalized, but should be preserved.

On 28th December 1824 the gate was demolished and widened in 1833.

Nowadays, we always think of Broadgate as the short street between Cathedral Close and the High Street. The old Tinley's teashop, now Pizza Express, occupies one corner of the old gate and has part of the original wall erected in 1286. Posts, marking the position of the gate, were installed soon after its demolition so that the Cathedral authorities could continue to claim jurisdiction over the Close. When Prince Charles visited in 1979, a ribbon was tied between the posts to symbolically represent a chain, which was once used to close Cathedral Close off with a chain, after the gate was removed. Also see Broadgate in streets.