Water Gate

From Historical Hastings

The central gate of the three that were once in the Town Wall, this one carried the waters of The Bourne out to sea. Also known as the 'Guts Mouth' or 'Gutsmouth'. According to J. Manwaring Baines, there is record of John Shaw having been paid 3s 4d in 1642 "for keeping cleane the gutsmouth neare the Bornegate"[1]. The popular name of the Bourne Stream being 'The Gut' around this period. This gate was believed to have had large towers to either side[2]

References & Notes

  1. Historic Hastings ISBN: 0948869003 ISBN: 9780948869006 (J. Manwaring Baines) 2nd ed. pg.189
  2. The Antiquities of Hastings and the Battlefield (Thomas Cole 1864) Pg. 78 Google Books - 1864 ESCC Library. A later edition is also available: ESCC Library - 1884