Pandon Gate

In 1827 Eneas Mackenzie wrote: "Pandon Gate was a very ancient structure; for, "As old as Pandon-Yate," is a proverb of great antiquity. Grey, who wrote his Chorography in 1649, speaking of the towers of the Roman Wall, says, 'One of these towers remaineth whole in the towne-wall of Newcastle, in Pampeden, older than the rest of the towers, and after another fashion standing out of the wall.' Bourne also calls it 'a Roman turret;' but Brand thinks this is an error, as he conceived the Roman Wall passed it at a considerable distance. This gate had folding iron gates, but no portcullis, and was ascended to the top by a flight of stone stairs, two yards wide. The tower was anciently the hall of the Barber Chirurgeons; but the west wall being destroyed during the civil wars, this society, in 1648, obtained a scite in the Manors whereon to build a meeting-house. This interesting remain of antiquity was totally demolished in 1795; but fortunately a drawing of its form was preserved, which has been exactly copied in the above wood engraving."