South gate, if not Roman in origin, was in existence by 1197. The gate is shown on Speed's 1610 map and comprised of a single large arched or square headed gateway, suggesting that it had been rebuilt in the Middle Ages. A house or rooms had been built over the south gate by c.1338 and was still there in 1604. In 1470 South gate was in ruins, south gate still needed repair in 1534 and in 1540 one of the aldermen was accused of selling 'the town gate at St Botolph's', perhaps part of the wooden gate at South Gate. St Botolph's Gate was repaired in 1609, and it stood at the time of the siege in 1648. The gate was demolished by the improvement commissioners in 1814.<1>

Reference in Wires Album to St Botolph's gate 'when cutting through where St Botolph's Gate stood part of the foundation was come upon. It exhibited the same appearance the town wall does. No pounded or pieces of brick were discoverable in the mortar'.<2><3> (This is thought to refer to the South East Roman gate rather a separate gate into the Priory.)