The South Gate and its Church
The South Gate used to span St Aldate’s, in line with the surviving wall on the north side of Brewer Street. The bus in the above picture would be passing through the gate, on its way out of the town.
It is possible that the name “Aldate” may be a contraction of “Old Gate”, and not a saint.
The remains of the gate were demolished or fell down in mid-17th century.
St Michael-at-the-Southgate Church was to the east of the gate, on the site of Christ Church (formerly Cardinal College). The church was closed and demolished along with a section of the wall in 1525 to make way for the great quadrangle of Cardinal College, and its parish was united with St Aldate’s.
Victoria County History: History of the County of Oxford, Vol. IV:
St Michael-at-the-Southgate Church
Next: South Wall in Brewer Street