Bridge And Remains Of Gatehouse And Curtain Walls At Astley Castle

The bridge and remains of the gatehouse and curtain walls at Astley Castle date back to the 14th century, with origins around 1266 and some alterations made in the early 19th century. The structure is made of regular coursed and coursed squared sandstone. The bridge features a round arch and an early 19th-century embattled parapet. The gateway has a four-centred arch, likely from the 14th century, consisting of two chamfered orders with a shield panel above. It includes double-leaf plank doors. The return walls are approximately 2 meters long to the bridge, with the left wall containing a bricked-up chamfered arch.

To the right and in front of the house, the curtain wall serves primarily as a retaining wall. On the left, the curtain wall rises to about 8 meters in height and extends approximately 15 meters to the rear of the house, connecting to the rear right corner and featuring two buttresses. There is an early 19th-century two-light mullioned window. The left wall curves back towards the house and ends at a round-arched gateway. A lower and rougher wall to the left descends to a retaining wall. A license to crenellate was granted in 1266.