Magazine Gateway

The Magazine Gateway is a Grade I listed medieval gateway that was added to the area of the Castle in 1331 by the Third Earl of Leicester. The building dates from around 1410 and is constructed of stone, featuring a rectangular plan and three storeys. It has bertizans at the corners and a domed octagonal stair turret. The parapet has been restored. The gateway has moulded four-centred arches for pedestrian and carriageways on the east side, with a wider arch on the west side that includes a tierceron-vault. The windows are mostly rectangular with moulded labels, and many are Victorian restorations, including deeply recessed one, two, or three-light stone mullion windows with cusped head lights. The Drill Hall extension built in 1894 on the south side has been demolished, and the gateway is now isolated due to a recent road scheme. It was used as a museum until 1996.