Temple Bar was the principal ceremonial entrance to the
City of London on its western side from the
City of Westminster. It is situated on the historic royal ceremonial route from the
Tower of London to the
Palace of Westminster, the two chief residences of the mediaeval English monarchs, and from the Palace of Westminster to
St Paul's Cathedral. The road east of Temple Bar and within the City is
Fleet Street, the road to the west, in Westminster, is
The Strand. At Temple Bar the Corporation of the City of London formerly erected a barrier to regulate trade into the City. The 19th century
Royal Courts of Justice are located next to it on its north side, having been moved from
Westminster Hall. To its south is the
Temple Church and the
Inner Temple and
Middle Temple Inns of Court. As the most important entrance to the City of London from Westminster, it was formerly long the custom for the
monarch to halt at Temple Bar before entering the City of London, in order for the
Lord Mayor to offer up the Corporation's pearl-encrusted
Sword of State as a token of loyalty. The term Temple Bar strictly refers to a notional bar or barrier across the route, but is commonly used to refer to the 17th century ornamental
Baroque arched gateway designed by
Christopher Wren which spanned the road until its removal in 1878. Wren's arch was preserved and was re-erected in 2004 in the City, in
Paternoster Square next to
St Paul's Cathedral.