Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Machicolation: A stone ledge jutting out from the wall, fitted with holes in the bot-
tom. If the enemy was scaling the walls, soldiers could drop rocks or boiling oil
down through the holes and onto the enemy below.
Barbican: A fortified gatehouse, sometimes a stand-alone building located outside
the main walls.
Drawbridge: A bridge that could be raised or lowered, using counterweights or a
chain-and-winch.
Portcullis: A heavy iron grille that could be lowered across the entrance.
Postern Gate: A small, unfortified side or rear entrance used during peacetime. In
wartime, it could become a “sally-port” used to launch surprise attacks, or as an
escape route.
Even as it sets trends for the 21st century, Britain treasures its heritage and takes great
pains to build tastefully in historic districts and to preserve its many “listed” (government-
protected) buildings. With a booming tourist trade, these quaint reminders of its past—and
ours—are becoming a valuable part of the British economy.
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