castle gate

Built between 1247 and 1250 during the reign of King Henry III, The Black Gate was the last addition to the medieval Castle defences. Consisting of an arched passage, with what are thought to be guard chambers on either side it was the gatehouse of the barbican, a walled, defensive entrance passage for the Castle’s North Gate. The gatehouse could be sealed by a portcullis (latticed grille or gate made of wood, metal or a combination). Mounted in vertical grooves in the walls that are still visible today it could be raised or lowered quickly by means of chains or ropes attached to an internal winch. The narrowness of the barbican passage and its angle to the rest of the Castle wall meant that attackers were restricted in their means of attack, and were left exposed to fire from the Castle’s defenders.

At the front of the gate was a drawbridge with a turning bridge at the rear. Both have since been replaced with wooden footbridges. These bridges could be closed quickly using counterweights.

Due to its continuous occupancy and alteration from the 17th century right up until the present day very little remains of the medieval layout within the Black Gate, except the vaulted chambers thought to have been guardrooms.

One aspect of the Black Gate which remains a mystery is its height. The present top two floors, roof and additional arch over the passage were added by Alexander Stephenson in the 17th century. Stephenson leased the Castle in 1619 including the Black Gate (with the exception of The Keep, Moot Hall and gaoler’s house), from King James I and turned the Black Gate into a house.
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