Canterbury's imposing Westgate Towers are impossible to miss.
These hugely impressive stone gates have marked the western entrance to the city for 640 years since 1380 and have see thousands of locals and tourists pass through them every day - pre-lockdown, of course.
But even though they're as familiar to Canterbury residents as rush hour traffic, many may not know the interesting and - in parts - somewhat gruesome history behind them.
Here is the full story behind the Westgate Towers.
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Archbishop Simon Sudbury's grand designs
The Roman's were the first to build a wall around Canterbury when they arrived in Canterbury in 300AD.
The gate was earmarked early on as being one of great strategic importance due to its location on the road to London.
As they left the city in ruins, the great gate fell into disarray for the best part of 1,000 years.
In 1380, the then Archbishop of Canterbury Simon Sudbury had the gate rebuilt.
This renovation was partly to make a suitably grand entrance for pilgrims entering the city to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket.
But it was also done with defensive reasons in mind.
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It would prove to be the last great project the Archbishop undertook.
He met his gruesome end a year later in 1381 at the hands of Watt Tyler and the peasant's revolt.
When the peasants arrived at the Tower of London, they dragged the Archbishop to Tower Hill where he was beheaded after enduring eight blows to the neck.
A 'Canterbury pace'
In medieval times a curious phrase began to circulate about the gate, that over time made its way into the language we use today.
It was known that the West Gate would close up its entrance at a certain time each night to protect the city from raiders and thieves.
In order to get through the gates on time, travellers and pilgrims heading to Canterbury would urge one another to move at a 'Canterbury pace'.
From this throw away phrase, the word 'canter', which is used today to describe how fast a horse is moving developed.
The West Gate Prison
The Westgate Inn is today the site of the popular night spot The Pound, which took it's name from the Westgate's murky past as a notorious city jail.
In 1453, Henry VI passed an act allowing the West Gate to serve as a prison.
From the 15th to the 19th century, it was Canterbury's principle jail with its imposing facade serving as a stark warning for any in the county thinking of committing an offence.
Further renovations to the gate were undertaken in 1667, at which point a pound on the site of Pound lane was built.
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In the 18th century, the rat infested guard rooms of the tower became cells for debtors and criminals.
A further room over the arch of the gate was reserved for those who had been condemned to die.
Up until 1775, a grated cage was placed in the prison way where prisoners were allowed to beg and speak to passers by.
Though how much charity these unfortunate souls received is unknown.
It would remain a prison until 1865 when the Victorian Prison Act closed the gaol and turned it instead into a police station, bringing the gate's gruesome history to a close.
