Pottergate

'Pottergate' as a street name dates back to the Viking period:'the street (Danish gata) of the potters'. Several kiln sites dating back to the 10th century have been located along this road, which then would have streched all the way down the hillside. The actual gate on Pottergate dates from a later period. It was one of the gatehouses built in the 14th century as part of the Close defences. It contained an upper-storey gatehouse over a single carriageway, and like the outer Close gates, it was locked every night into the 1700`s. Sections of the adjacent Close wall, as well as houses built against it, were demolished when the roadway was widened in the 1880`s.The gate itself was restored at this time. One can still see where the garderobe, or toilet, was attached to the east wall. From here you can take a pleasant walk into Winnowsty Lane , to the east of pottergate, to view restored sections of the Close Wall and one of its towers.