Nottingham Castle Gatehouse, Outer Bridge And Adjoining Gateway

Nottingham Castle gatehouse, outer bridge, and adjoining gateway were built between 1252 and 1255 for Henry III. The structure was altered in the mid-16th century, slighted in 1651, and restored with an added gateway in 1908. It is constructed of ashlar stone with ashlar dressings and stone slate roofs, featuring three octagonal ashlar stacks. The building includes a parapet, a string course, and cross casement windows, all of which were added in the early 20th century.

The gatehouse has a pointed arched entrance with a hood mould, flanked by round towers, and two windows to the left. Above the entrance is a segment-arched panel displaying the City arms, and it features panelled double doors. Inside, there is a pointed barrel vault with two bays and pointed arched recesses that hold shouldered doors. The outer bridge spans the moat and has a chamfered pointed arch with a hood mould and four chamfered ribs, along with a smaller round arch from the mid-16th century that replaced the drawbridge. The parapets were restored in 1908.

At the rear, mostly dating from 1908, there is a pointed arched gateway with a doorway to its left, both from the 13th century, and two 20th-century windows beyond. To the right, there is a small gabled addition. The adjoining gateway on the left features wrought-iron double gates with square piers and finials, as well as smaller side gates. Next to the gatehouse is a semicircular kiosk. This structure is an important survival of the medieval castle.