Construction of the gate was begun following the conquest of Northern Wales by Edward I in 1282, as part of a series of English fortifications designed to control the native Welsh population. The first English lord of Denbigh was Henry de Lacy, the Earl of Lincoln, who was appointed by King Edward I, and who was responsible for the construction of the Burgess gate. It is likely that Henry employed the architect James of St George to build the gate. He was a leading military architect of the time, responsible for designing other notable castles in Wales such as Harlech and Conwy. The gate was completed by 1294 though the larger fortifications were still under construction by the time of Edward's death in 1311. The gate was breached in 1400 during the Glyndŵr Rising although he was unable to take the castle itself and later withdrew. The town was again taken, and this time sacked, by Lancastrian forces during the wars of the roses, following which the old town within the walls was largely abandoned; the Burgess gate here became part of the castles outer defences as a result. There is evidence of Civil War era cannon danmage, particularly on the western tower.