York Water Gate

York Water Gate is a Grade I listed former Thameside water gate, built in 1626. It was executed by Nicholas Stone, with the design also attributed to Sir Balthazar Gerbier. The gate served as the water entrance to York House, where Gerbier made alterations for George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, during the same period.

Constructed from Portland stone, the gate features a tripartite monumental design in a bold Franco-Flemish Baroque style, reminiscent of the Fontaine de Medicis. The main central archway includes a flight of river steps.

The south front, which faced the river, is rusticated and has a central archway flanked by smaller arched loggias. These are supported by banded engaged Doric columns that hold up a deep entablature topped with a large broken segmental pediment, featuring lions couchant on either side. The north front has three arches with carved cartouche keystones, supported by pilasters and topped with spiked ball finials on pedestals.