Victorian kissing gate is lovingly restored Cromer

Now a kissing gate near the north Norfolk coast has been lovingly restored.

The gate, on a public footpath between Arbor Road and Roughton Road in Cromer, had deteriorated so badly it was removed in 2021. 

But it has now been reinstated at a cost of £3,500, which Tim Adams, from the town, described as an “absolute bargain”.

The damaged kissing gate before the refurbishment in 2020 - Picture: Brenda Stibbons (Image: Brenda Stibbons)

He said: “There are new uprights, all of which had badly broken, and the gate wonderfully restored.

“I was pleased to walk through the gate for the first time since its reinstatement."

The name ‘kissing gate’ is often thought to derive from the way it lightly touches or ‘kisses’ both entrance and exit posts as it swings back and forth. 

But they have often become spots for couples themselves to kiss. 

Cromer’s was no exception, and the footpath where it is found is known locally as Love Lane.

The gates are often in rural settings to prevent livestock from wandering from one field to another. 

Tim Adams from Cromer - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Supplied)

But kissing gates are also found near old churches, and another theory about their name is that they were places for coffin - or ‘kist’ - bearers to rest their load on the way to funerals.

READ MORE: 20 places in East Anglia that no one else knows

But the number of Britain’s kissing gates has declined over the years, as they can be impossible to navigate by people with pushchairs, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

For that reason, a space has been left next to Cromer’s gate, so its use is optional. 

Mr Adams is a councillor on both Cromer town and Norfolk county councils, which jointly funded the project. 

He said there had been “an awful lot of goodwill” on the restoration, and wanted to thank county council officer Martin Caplin and Cromer Estate owner Benjie Cabbell-Manners for making it possible. 

The gate dates from 1880.

Mr Adams said works to improve the rest of Love Lane would “progress when time allows”.

There are still dozens of kissing gates dotted around Norfolk.

Some of their locations include:

-St Mary’s Church, Wiveton

-The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Northrepps

-Cottage Plantation, Felbrigg

-Near Paston church, Paston

-Near the former RAF Coltishall base at Scottow

-On the Weavers’ Way at Aylsham

-The Church of St Peter and St Paul at Oulton

-Stubbs Green Common near Loddon

-On the Wherryman’s Way near Loddon

-On the footpath between East and West Runton

-In Glandford, near Blakeney

-At a level crossing at Heath Road, near North Walsham

-On the footpath to Outney Common, near Ditchingham

-On a footpath off Brick Kiln Road, near Feltthorpe 

-On Moor Drove, near Hockwold Cum Wilton

-On Church Lane near Claxton

-Off Broom Hill in Wimbotsham