The Town Gate, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.7385 / 51°44'18"N

Longitude: -4.3081 / 4°18'29"W

OS Eastings: 240724

OS Northings: 206941

OS Grid: SN407069

Mapcode National: GBR GP.BRMZ

Mapcode Global: VH3M2.8KTM

Plus Code: 9C3QPMQR+9P

Entry Name: The Town Gate

Listing Date: 5 December 1963

Last Amended: 28 July 1998

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 11877

Building Class: Defence

ID on this website: 300011877

Location: Situated at SW end of Castle Street, some 130m WSW of Kidwelly Castle.

County: Carmarthenshire

Town: Kidwelly

Community: Kidwelly (Cydweli)

Community: Kidwelly

Locality: Kidwelly/Cydweli

Built-Up Area: Kidwelly

Traditional County: Carmarthenshire

Tagged with: City gate

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Kidwelly

History

Medieval gateway, probably early C14, though aid for walling the town was given in 1280-1. The principal gate to the small walled town SW of the castle. Reconstruction drawings suggest a single rectangular structure with chamfered spur-footed angles, of three storeys with battlements. Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Exterior

Rubble stone ruinous gateway, the front and side walls of a substantial gatehouse with traces of three storeys within. Broad segmental-pointed main arch of four steps, chamfered to front, portcullis slot between 2nd and 3rd steps. Side to left is obscured by public house, but has corbelled first floor chimneybreast. Three upper floor broad cambered headed windows, presumably to a principal hall, robbed of ashlar. Side to right has two narrow first floor lancets, robbed of ashlar, and two ground floor loops. Chamfered SW angle with spur foot. S wall has mostly gone, N wall survives to full height with short return remaining of inner E wall.

Interior

Numerous window and fireplace embrasures to rear of front wall and rear of N wall, including two blocked N lancets. The gateway was originally stone vaulted.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a Medieval town gateway of national importance as a surviving structure from the town defences.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II The War Memorial and railings
Situated on side of main road (A 484) some 100m NE of Kidwelly Bridge.
II Castle School and School house
Situated just within medieval town gateway, at junction of Castle Street and Bailey Street.
II Ruined Warehouse By Kidwelly Bridge
Situated on E side of main road (A 484) overlooking NE end of Kidwelly Bridge.
II No 6, Castle Street, Kidwelly/Cydweli, Kidwelly, SA17 5AX
Situated on N side of Castle Street, just E of former Castle School.
II Castle Mill
Situated on N bank of Gwendraeth Fach, some 100m E of Kidwelly Bridge, reached by lane running S from medieval town gatehouse.
II Kidwelly Bridge/Pont Cydweli
Situated on main road (A 484) crossing Gwendraeth Fach, between Bridge Street and New Street.
II The Old Moat House
Situated close to entrance to Kidwelly Castle, at corner of Castle Street and Castle Road.
II Capel Sul
Situated on W side of main road (A 484) prominently overlooking Kidwelly Bridge.

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History in Structure

The Town Gate

A Grade II* Listed Building in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire