This is a Kissing Gate. They usually have a square, semi-circular or v-shaped enclosure, with a hinged gate that swings between two posts. The hinged part “kisses” both sides of the enclosure, allowing one person to pass through.
They’re commonly found at the entrance to graveyards. Much easier to negotiate than climbing over a stile and falling into the mud in your Sunday best! There doesn’t seem to be much folklore regarding them but there is a lot of debate over their name.
Some say that the name comes from when more than one person passes through the gate. In order for a person to do so successfully, they have to kiss the next person after they have negotiated the hinge, before the next person enters. It is considered good form for everyone passing through to exchange a kiss ~ meaning you need to go walking with people you’re friendly with!
Some say that they were placed at the entrances of churchyards by the Victorians so that couples could not pass through together. Passing through gates hand-in-hand was seen as symbolic of a sexual relationship. Others maintain that the term “kissing gate” comes from “kisting gate” - a place where a coffin was put so the bearers could rest before carrying it into the church.
Another theory is that would-be lovers gathered near them. Men would pass a coin or token to a woman. If she was interested, a kiss would be exchanged and she would place the token in her purse for eternity. If she was not interested, she would throw it away. It has been suggested that the following rhyme is related to kissing gates:
“There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile, he found a crooked sixpence against a crooked style. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse, and they all lived together in a little crooked house.” That said, the Crooked House in Lavenham (see my earlier post) is also said to be the inspiration behind this poem.
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