Rectangular Gatetowers

Rectangular gatetowers can be found in a variety of castles. They seem to be an early feature, viz Hay on Wye, Ludlow and Richmond, although the style continued right through until fifteenth century, viz Caldicot. Generally, the more internal to the enceinte the gatetowers appear to be, the earlier they are in conception. Presumably this was from a time when the theory of flanking seems not so important. The idea of a gatetower was not medieval. Roman examples are even postulated on some milecastles along Hadrian's Wall as well as at Scarborough's Roman castle, while the later internal towers at Portchester fort probably overlie Roman originals. At Silchester there is an interesting interned example, which is possibly earlier than the enclosing walls, while Caerwent boasts more normal small rectangular, internal Roman gatetowers as apparently once also did Lincoln town. There its west gate looked remarkedly like the Romanesque Egremont gatehouse. An internal example apparently existed as the east gate of Ambleside fort as well as possibly at Hardknott.

Below are a list of rectangular gatetowers found in various countries.

British Isles

England
Allington; Alnwick (internal inner and outer wards); Arundel (internal); Barnard Castle (inner ward); Berkhamsted (main and Dearne gate); Binbury Thornham; Bishop's Waltham; Bodiam; Bramber; Brougham; Buckton; Burwell; Carlisle; Castle Acre; Castle Rising; Conisbrough; Dudley; Egremont; Eye?; Eynsford; Farnham; Framlingham; Harbottle; Helmsley (south gate); Launceston; Lewes (internal); Lincoln; Ludlow; Moreton Corbet; New Buckingham; Newark; Norham; Old Sarum; Peil; Pickering; Portchester (inner ward, outer north & south); Prudhoe; Restormal; Richards Castle; Richmond; Rockingham; Scarborough (inner ward); Scotney; Shrewsbury; Stogursey; Tickhill; Tintagel (internal); Tower of London 4th Gate; Trematon; Wark; Westhanger; Wigmore.

Wales
Abergavenny; Caldicot; Carew; Castell Coch; Cilgerran; Criccieth (outer ward); Dinefwr (early ward, destroyed, barbican? and outer ward, largely destroyed); Hay on Wye; Kenfig; Kidwelly; Laugharne; Llanstephan; Manorbier; Narberth; Pembroke (inner ward horseshoe shaped); Powis Castle (outer Ward); Ogmore; Raglan; Skenfrith; Tenby; Tretower; White Castle (outer ward).

Scotland
Rothesay; St Andrews; Tantellon.

Ireland
Adare; Dunamase (inner & outer wards); Liscarroll; Maynooth; Roscommon; Swords; Trim.

France

Alps
Crussol

Alsace
Chatenois; Fleckenstein; Hugstein

Burgundy
Balladins; Druyes-les-Belles-Fontaines; Eguilly; Passy-les-Tours

Brittany
Fort-la-Latte; Fougeres

Cathar
Lordat; Roquefixade

Gascony
Bearn; Bellocq; Budos; Langoiran; Montaner; Morlanne

Ile de France
Brie-Comte-Robert; Montlhery

Loire
Chatillon sur Loire; Mornay-Berry

Lot
Lastours

Normandy
Belleme; Bricquebec; Chateau-Gaillard (internal inner and outer); Chateau-sur-Epte; Montfort sur Risle; Pirou (internal); Plessis Grimoult; Robert le Diable (D)

Poitou-Charentes
Airvault; Bressuire (D); Courdray Salbart (round); Villeneuve-la-Comtesse (with round corner turrets)

Provence
Vernegues

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