I also wonder whether antiquities activists, such as those described in this blog, existed in the eighteenth century and whether they tried to save some of the magnificent old gates. Collecting antiquities had become very popular among the nobility by that time, leading to Curiosity Cabinets, private collections, and, eventually, the first public museums. Did the nobility not also recognize the value of the old gates?

As a note — the author Collette lived in an apartment in the Palais Royale in Paris during WWII and wrote about the flow of traffic outside her window. I lived briefly in Paris and used to sit outside her apartment thinking of her brave life.

There must be many who watched the streets during the past shutdown who noted the changes as the months went by.

GA, so interesting how the story of these historic entry points into London were created and remain as place names in today’s city – a classy way for Player’s cigarettes to advertise.