Westgate, Medieval gatehouse in Canterbury, England
Westgate is a stone gatehouse with two towers standing around 60 feet high and featuring a drawbridge that crossed the River Stour. It contains defensive features such as a portcullis and heavy wooden doors that controlled entry to the town.
An archbishop commissioned the gatehouse in 1380 to replace an earlier Roman fortification, though he died shortly after during a major uprising. The new structure marked an important moment in the city's defensive history.
The gatehouse served as a main arrival point for pilgrims traveling to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket at the cathedral. Today, you can still sense how important this spot was in the lives of medieval travelers.
Inside, visitors can explore three floors of a museum displaying weapons, armor, and artifacts from different periods. The narrow spiral stairs and steep steps require reasonable physical fitness to navigate comfortably.
The gatehouse functioned as the city's main prison from 1453 to 1829, and visitors can still see prison cells inside. A particularly preserved cell above the portcullis slot serves as a reminder of those who were held there.
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