Description
Saint Laurence's Gate is a barbican which was built in the 13th century as part of the walled fortification's of the medieval town of Drogheda in Ireland. A barbican or defended fore-work which stood directly outside the original gate of which no surface trace survives. It is regarded as one of the finest of its kind and is designated as a national monument. The original names for Laurence Street and Saint Laurence Gate were Great East Street and Great East Gate, respectively. In the 14th century, the street and gate were renamed because they led to the hospital of Saint Laurence, which stood close to the Cord church.StructureIt consists of two towers, each with four floors, joined by a bridge at the top and an entrance arch at street level. Entry is gained up a flight of stairs in the south tower. There is a slot underneath the arch from where a portcullis could be raised and lowered.Historians have wondered why such an enormous barbican was built in the east of the town, when the main artery through the town has always been north/south. For example, a similar barbican in Canterbury is less than half the height of Saint Laurence Gate. However, from the top of the Gate, the estuary of the Boyne and the four mile stretch of river from there to Drogheda can be clearly observed. This is the only point in the town with a clear view of any potential sea invasion. The earliest pictures we have of Laurence's Gate show that there was a raised lookout platform at the top of the south tower to provide an even higher vantage point, ref Francis Place, 1698 (Irish Architectural Archive), Willem Van Der Hagen, 1720 (Beaulieu House), Ricardelli, 1782 (Highlanes Gallery).
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