BROAD GATE, EXETER.
FORMERLY CALLED SAINT MICHAEL'S,
(From a drawing taken A. D. 1820.)

Although this Gate in point of antiquity, had fewer claims to attention from the antiquary, when put in competition with the more venerable and defensive bulwarks of this city, yet, the singular cause of its erection, as related by Hoker, Jenkins, and other writers-also some beautiful portions of its architecture, excited a degree of interest in the mind of a beholder. A great difference of execution was apparent between the eastern and western front; the more elaborate workmanship being placed on that which faced the Cathedral; the western, which faced the High Street, having little or no embellishment of any kind. From the northern and southern angles of the eastern front, projected an octagonal turret; in the northern turret, a pointed arched door opened to a spiral flight of steps, which communicated with the apartments on the upper stories. In the centre and over the main gateway, stood a mutilated statue, representing St. Michael the Archangel as overcoming Satan, but so defaced by time, or, which is more probable, by the parliamentary ruffians under General Fairfax, as to render it an object of little notice. The cause of its erection as given by Jenkins is as follows :-

"Walter Lechlade, the first Precentor, was this year (1285) murdered as he came from morning prayers, (which was usually in those days at 2 o'clock) and this struck the clergy with such terror, that they petitioned the King, who, with his Queen, came to Exeter, and after a strict investigation of the said murder, Alphred Duport, who had been eight times Mayor, together with the Porter of the South Gate, was arraigned, found guilty, and executed; it being proved that the Southgate was that night left open, by which means the murderer escaped, and was never after heard of. It does not appear from any accounts handed down to us, that the Mayor and Porter were any ways privy to or concerned in this murder; but only that through their misconduct in leaving the gate open, the murderer's escape was facilitated. The King, Queen, and their suite, kept their Christmas here, and during their residence, they lodged in the house of the Blackfriars, (lately Bedford House) where they continued till the beginning of the next year; when, at the King's instigation, a composition and agreement was made between the Mayor and commonalty, on the one part; and the Bishop, Dean, and Chapter on the other part; in which, the said Mayor and citizens, for the better security of the resident Clergy, gave them (by a deed) liberty to encompass the whole close and cemetry of St. Peter, with a high wall; and to erect the following Gates:-viz., St. Michael's, St. Martin's Berkely, Palace Dean's, St. George's, and St. Petrock's; but the Mayor and citizens reserved to themselves their full judicial power and privileges, which they had been possessed of before this agreement. The deed is dated the 25th of March, 1286, and is witnessed by the Lord Hugh de Courtenay, the Lord Oliver de Dinham, Hugh Peveril de Sampford, Richard de Poltimore, Henry de Raleigh, Henry de Parle Beau, Sheriff of Devon,and Thomas de Pinn, Knights."

It is also described by a writer of the present day (Besley) in pretty near the same manner, but with this exception, "they having been proved," (i.e. the Mayor and Porter) "to have had some participation in the crime, as South Gate was that night left open," but both these accounts are refuted upon strong grounds of argument, by our much respected townsman and historian, the Rev. G. Oliver, to whose unceasing labors [sic] we are greatly indebted, for expunging egregious errors and fallacious representations in the histories of Exeter, and which is here given in his own words:-

"During Peter's (Bishop Quivil's) episcopate, the Cathedral cemetry was enclosed with a wall, and gates were erected at suitable distances, Hoker, Godwin, lzacke, Le Neve, Cleveland, and the herd of subsequent writers, have contended that this inclosure took place in consequence of the murder of the Precentor, Walter Lecchelade, in the year 1286, as he was returning from matins; but there is sufficient reason for doubting and even discrediting their assertion; for Bishop Quivil's register informs us that Walter Lecchelade was collated to the precentorship on the 1st of August, A. D. 1282., Again the Bishop tells us, that on the 18th of November, A. D. 1283 he collated Andrew de Killkenny, to the same office, then vacant by the death of the said Walter Lecchelade. If this precentor had been actually murdered, is it not rational to suppose, that the Bishop in twice mentioning the death would have abstained from some remark on so melancholy an event,- from qualifying it as violent, sacrilegious, or the like? Is it probable that this deed of blood and terror should pass unnoticed in the compositions between the Dean and Chapter, and the Mayor and Corporation of Exeter for enclosing the cemetry? Lastly, is it not highly improbable that two years should be suffered to elapse without any inquisition taken of a murder so attrocious [sic] ; I may add, that the alledged [sic] execution of Alfred Duport, (a person of such character as to have been elected no less than eight times to fill the office of the first Magistrate of Exeter,) as also of the Porter of the South Gate, "for that the South Gate was that night left open, by which means the murderer escaped," can hardly be credited, as being the extreme of cruelty and injustice."

"From this latter statement it appears, that Walter Lecchelade died two years, or nearly so previous to the alledged murder, yet Jenkins expressly declares that the said Walter Lecchelade 'was this year murdered,' (i.e. 1285)- and again, the execution of Alfred Duport and the Porter of South Gate appears to have but little credence, yet that Alfred Duport served the office of Mayor in 1269, 1275. 1276, 1278, 1280,1281, 1283,1284-5, and then totally disappeared from the civic chair, (most probably by death, either natural or violent,) gives some color [sic] to the assertion, but whether true or false, or where the error is concealed, is not for me to determine."

Broad Gate was built about 1286 or 7, and taken down in 1825, in order to form a more convenient opening to the Cathedral Yard; having stood upwards of five centuries.

[Text may be taken from a different edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]