Whorlton Castle Gatehouse

Whorlton Castle Gatehouse is the gatehouse of a motte-and-bailey castle, with no other buildings surviving apart from some vaulted undercrofts. It dates from the late 14th century and was altered in the 16th century. The structure is made of sandstone ashlar and sits on a high chamfered plinth; it is roofless and floorless. The rectangular plan features a central through-passage with the springing of a high vault still visible, and there is one large room on either side on each floor, surrounded by small mural chambers. The gatehouse has three storeys and three wide bays.

The entrance is segment-arched and consists of two planes, with the outer being curved and the inner chamfered. It has modern wood lattice filling with a wicket door. Above the entrance are three shields in cusped panels. The first-floor cross windows have chamfered reveals, and similar windows are found on the top floor. There are also scattered slits and small single lights, along with second-floor drip bands. The rear elevations are plainer, featuring two blocked doorways and scattered slits, with one cross window at the top right and a lost mullion 2-light window at the top left.

Inside, there is a drawbar tunnel in the doorway and later pintles. A round-arched door leads to a projecting staircase tower on the left, which contains a newel stair that is broken at the top. The interior features Caernarvon arches in several mural chambers, some of which serve as garderobes, representing the original building period. The wide splays and segmental rere-arches of the smaller windows also date from this time, while later, larger doorways and windows have Tudor rere-arches. Although some wall passages are missing, first-floor and ground-floor fireplaces and chimneys remain. The ribs of the central vault have a single hollow chamfer, likely original. There are signs of later buildings, now gone, both inside and out. The site is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.