Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
The Town Gate
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales
A Grade II* listed building in Kidwelly/Cydweli, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, designated on 5 December 1963.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 5 December 1963
- Locality
- Kidwelly/Cydweli
- Town
- Kidwelly
- Community
- Kidwelly
- Unitary authority
- Carmarthenshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.73848, -4.30816
- Cadw reference
- 11877
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 229 Carmarthen (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1920 · Sheet 100. Llanelly. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Situated at SW end of Castle Street, some 130m WSW of Kidwelly Castle.
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.
Reason for designation
Listed as a Medieval town gateway of national importance as a surviving structure from the town defences.
Nearby in the register
- The War Memorial and railingsReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Castle School and School houseEducationunder 1 mi
- Ruined Warehouse By Kidwelly BridgeCommercialunder 1 mi
- 6 Castle StreetDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.