Thus starts the story of the medieval gatehouse, an architectural accessory that was specially designed to make sieges and attacks as difficult as possible.
Since the very etymology of the term “medieval gatehouse” contains the word “gate”, it suffices to say that it was designed for the entrance of the castle. Now, it’s important to understand that this was not just a typical medieval gate.
Getting into the gatehouse required making it through quite a few difficult areas, starting with the approach. Flanking towers on either side of the gatehouse allowed to archers to keep sight of the enemy and fire accordingly.
Associated with moats, the drawbridge is one of the most iconic parts of a medieval gateway. It was hung over a defensive ditch or moat in times of peace (by the way, moat-and-bailey castles are Norman invention). But when it came to sieges, it was drawn back and the enemy had to think of innovative ways to bypass the moat/ditch in order to get inside.