An open and shut case

A gate is so much more than a way to keep dogs in and intruders out, writes James Alexander-Sinclair

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THE great thing about a gate is that it is something that everybody can own, no matter how small their garden. Usually, they are tediously practical and are there for security or access. It is not those gates with which we are concerned here—instead, we are talking about gates that add something to the place.

At some point in most of our lives, we have all been captivated by a gate, be it a national monument known to everyone, such as the Brandenburg or Tiananmen Gates, the ivy-covered door to a Secret Garden, the ornately carved entrance to a stately pile or the down home-welcoming white picket gate of The Waltons. The presence of a gate is often the beginning of an exploration. Why is it here? Is it locked? What lies behind it? Am I allowed through? Lots of intriguing questions and the only way to get answers is to open the gate and wander through. Clever gardeners use gates to add all sorts of things to their gardens: depth, mystery, grandeur, humour and storytelling.

‘Gates can add depth, mystery, grandeur and storytelling’