See how The York Water Gate changed between 1845 and 2025. Drag the slider to compare the historic photograph with the modern view.
The York Water Gate is an exceptional remnant of 17th-century architecture, once forming part of the grand York House complex along the Thames in London. Constructed circa 1626 for George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, this elegant structure served as the riverside entrance to the mansion. Over the centuries, significant alterations to the river’s edge, particularly during the Victorian Embankment projects, have dramatically altered its context. Today, the gate stands approximately 150 yards from the river, a poignant reminder of London’s evolving landscape and the historical shoreline that once defined the Thames.
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In 1626, Nicholas Stone, master mason to King Charles I, constructed the York Watergate as a riverside entrance to York House for George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. This Baroque-style gate, featuring the Duke's arms and motto, once stood directly on the Thames. Following the demolition of York House in 1675, the gate remained, though the river's course shifted due to the 19th-century Victoria Embankment, leaving it approximately 150 metres inland. Recognised as a Grade I listed structure, the gate was restored in 1893 and continues to stand as a testament to London's architectural heritage. (londonremembers.com)
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