Tintern Abbey, Watergate

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a gatehouse. The monument is characterised by a gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. The Watergate was one of the two known entrances into the medieval precinct of Tintern Abbey. It provided access for those travelling on the River Wye or crossing by ferry form the English side. It remained in use into the 19th century and was much illustrated in views of the period. The archway and flanking wall date to the late medieval period. Part of the west gate chamber is incorporated into the Anchor Hotel and the ramp down to the river level is now buried below later road surfaces.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of entrance architecture. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. A gatehouse may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.