This famous entrance to the Tower of London was created around 1275. It was originally built to provide a new water-gate by which royalty could arrive at the Tower by river. This changed over the years and was increasingly used for hundreds of years as the entrance for enemies of the state accused of treason. Prisoners were brought by barge along the Thames, passing under London Bridge, where the heads of recently executed prisoners were displayed on pikes. Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Sir Thomas More entered the Tower by Traitors' Gate. Also 21 year-old Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I, when her older half-sister Queen 'Bloody' Mary ordered her arrest believing that the Princess was involved in a rebellious plot against her. At first Elizabeth, terrified and angry, refused to land at the gate, proclaiming that she was no traitor. However she spent 8 weeks at the Tower, after which she was released.