Portcullises

A portcullis is a heavy, vertically sliding gate used to secure the entrance of a castle or fortified gatehouse. Typically made of timber reinforced with iron, it hangs in vertical grooves cut into the doorframe and can be lowered quickly to block entry, or raised to permit passage. When lowered, it forms a lattice or solid barrier that spans the mouth of the gateway and can be positioned behind a drawbridge or inner gate to provide layered defense.

Construction and operation: The gate is usually a grid or slab of thick timber boards, sometimes plated with iron. It is guided by tracks or grooves in the masonry and is raised or lowered by a winch, capstan, or wheel connected to ropes or chains; some examples used counterweights. The bottom edge often featured metal teeth or iron sheathing to bite into the ground and hinder attackers from forcing it upward.

Historical usage: Portcullises were a common feature of medieval European castles and town walls from the 12th century onward. They worked in conjunction with a drawbridge and sometimes a turning or inner gate, forming multiple layers of defense. They could be relied upon to block entry during sieges and were designed to be repaired quickly and to resist brute force or mining.

Variants and legacy: Some fortifications used double portcullises or additional latticed gates for extra security. Today, portcullises survive in preserved castles and are often displayed as historical examples of medieval defense; they also appear in modern times as ceremonial or decorative features in museums and buildings.