The South Gate

The South Gate is a town gate located in Launceston, dating from the 14th century with slight remodeling in the 17th century and a pedestrian gate added in 1887. The lower half is constructed from dressed volcanic agglomerate stone and greenstone, while the upper part features slatestone rubble with volcanic agglomerate dressings and 17th-century granite dressings. It has a pyramidal rag slate roof behind a late 19th-century embattled parapet. A stone stack over the left-hand (west) wall was removed in the 20th century. The structure has three storeys and features a one-window range on both the outer and inner elevations. Each elevation includes two chamfered pointed arches, with the main arch fronting ribbed vaults. The upper floors have 17th-century three-light granite mullions with hoodmoulds. The southeast front has a narrower pedestrian gateway on the left and the main gateway with portcullis slots above. On the outer side of the passage, there are remnants of an arch dated 1639 and fragments of tracery. A water point dated 1825, inscribed "PCH" for Parr Cunningham Hocking, the Mayor at that time, is located to the right of the inner elevation; this was the town's first public water supply. Historically, until the early 19th century, the rooms of the South Gate were used as a gaol for petty offenders and a prison for debtors.