Gatehouses
Gatehouses are buildings that stand at the gateway to a town, estate, castle, or other fortification of importance and whose function is to control access and provide defense. Fictional gatehouses are often located along the walls of a fantasy town. They may operate a drawbridge that spans a moat. They may be combined with a watchtower to observe travelers and potential enemies approaching by road or a bell tower to raise the alarm. Passing through a gatehouse may be restricted to only certain individuals or may require travel documents or a fee. Gatehouses are home to guards.
Gatehouses represent a gateway between locations and may be used by worldbuilders as portals between realms or other locations.
| Synonyms: guardhouses |
| Example Mythonyms: the Northern Gate, Greenfield Entry |
Designing Fictional Gatehouses
Overview
Gatehouses can vary widely in size, design, and purpose. Some common types include:
- Castle gatehouses: These are often the most heavily fortified part of a castle, designed to withstand attacks. They typically include features such as drawbridges, portcullises, murder-holes, and arrow slits.
- Town gatehouses: These structures controlled access to a town and often served as a point of taxation or inspection. They could also be fortified to defend against attacks.
- Estate gatehouses: These gatehouses marked the entrance to a private estate and often served as a residence for the estate’s gatekeeper or other staff.
Functions
In addition to their primary role of controlling access, gatehouses serve other purposes:
- Defense: Many gatehouses were heavily fortified to protect against attacks.
- Security: Gatehouses often housed guards or gatekeepers who monitored who entered and exited the protected area.
- Taxation: In some cases, gatehouses were used to collect tolls or taxes from those entering a town or estate.
- Residence: Some gatehouses included living quarters for the gatekeeper or other staff.
Defense
Gatehouse architecture varies widely depending on the period, location, and purpose of the building. Common features include:
- Portcullis: A heavy, sliding gate that could be lowered to block the entrance.
- Drawbridge: A bridge that could be raised or lowered to control access.
- Machicolations: Openings in the walls from which defenders could drop stones or boiling oil on attackers.
- Arrow slits: Narrow openings in the walls for archers to fire through.
- Murder-holes: Holes in the ceiling through which objects could be dropped on attackers.
