North Gatehouse And Walls Attached Enclosing Castle; Gate House Formerly Listed As 'Porter'S Lodge'

The North Gatehouse and attached walls enclosing the castle, formerly known as the Porter's Lodge, date back to the 14th century, with alterations made in the 18th century by J. Carr. The structure is built from coursed sandstone blocks with ashlar dressings, and the wall is made from similar materials. The gatehouse is two stories high and features a wide segmental portcullis arch beneath a corbelled balcony. Above this arch is a two-light window with cusped ogee heads, and there are machicolations below the top parapet, which is crenellated.

Flanking turrets are present, with the left turret being narrower and both are crenellated. The left turret has a square-headed chamfered surround for the door, while the right turret features a three-foil-headed window. The turrets have machicolated returns. Life-size figures on the battlements were relocated from the now-demolished east barbican and guard tower. The flanking walls step down and include blind quatrefoil decorations leading to lower turrets. The encircling wall, reduced to about one meter above the level of the castle yard, forms a retaining wall along the inner edge of the moat, featuring square projections, flat buttresses, battered lower courses on the south side, and a segmental-arched entrance from the moat on the southeast.