Watergates and Steps of London

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I believe @RasmaSandra (55471) wrote about the York Watergate, in London, some time ago. I thought I’d expand on it and two other features that are the survivors of a once thriving waterfront along the Thames, that faded with the building of the Embankment in the 1860s, that narrowed the river. Furthest west is Queen Mary’s Steps. This was once part of the Palace of Whitehall and was built by Sir Christopher Wren, of St Paul’s Cathedral fame. Lost during the Palace fire, the steps were discovered in the 1930s, during the building of the Ministry of defence building. The steps were repaired and a section of wall and curved terrace was reconstructed and are now some 100 metres from the river. Next is the York Watergate, which was part of the York House mansion, standing on the Strand, which means ‘shore of the river’. The gate was built by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, who is more well known for being the Queen of France’s lover in The Three Musketeers. The building of the Embankment left the gate some 150 metres from the Thames. Lastly the most famous and by the mid-16th century, already known as Traitor’s Gate. Part of St Thomas’ Tower at the Tower of London. Built by King Edward I, in the late 1270s. Used not just for traitors, but goods and foodstuffs too. By the mid-16th century it was already known as Traitor’s Gate. Incidentally, St Thomas’ Tower was also where the torture chamber was located. Less than 30 metres from the river, but boat access has been blocked off. I put together some of the video I took and you can find it here https://youtu.be/NqKZtYSebF0