A water gate on the Thames near to St. Lawrence Pountney, but within the parish of St. Martin Orgar (S. 42). In Dowgate and Bridge Wards Within.
Earliest mention: "Ebbegate," 1246 (Cal. Charter Rolls, H. III. Vol. I. p. 304).
Other forms : "Ebegate," 1295-6 (Ct. H.W. I. 124). "Ebbergate," 1363 (Cal. P.R. Ed. III. 1361-4, p. 347). "Ebgate," alias Oystergate, 3 H. V. (Cal. L. Bk. I. p. 138). But in 1312 they were enumerated separately (L. Bk. D. fo. cxlii., quoted in Riley's Mem., p. 95).
In 1377 the Alderman of Dowgate Ward was to keep guard over the wharves between Ebbgate and Douegate (Cal. L. Bk. H. p. 65).
A water gate of old time called "Ebgate," since Ebgate lane, and now the "olde swan," which is a common stayre on the Thames, but the passage is very narrow by meanes of encroachments " (S. 215).
See Swan Lane.
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.