The name ’Ludgate’ was derived from the belief that the gate had been created by the pre-Roman British king of London, King Lud. When a new gate was built, a statue on it depicted King Lud, along with one of Queen Elizabeth I.
In time, the site of Ludgate Circus – also originally known as Farringdon Circus – replaced the gate. The River Fleet, long since buried, was crossed by Fleet Street here. Fleet Street was the only direct road between the City of London and Westminster until the Embankment was opened in 1870. The facades of the buildings facing the Circus were constructed between 1864 and 1875 – the facing was of Haytor granite from Dartmoor transported via the prototype Haytor Granite Tramway.
