Drawbar (defense)

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A drawbar is a defensive implement used to secure a door or gate in a medieval building such as a castle.[1][2]

When drawn across the full length of the door, it prevents the door or gate from being opened. To open the door or gate, the drawbar is pushed into a drawbar slot in the wall. These drawbar slots often survive in ruins and preserved buildings from that time.[3][4][5]

The use of gunpowder and the possibility to blow up the door rendered them obsolete.

Gallery[]

  • A drawbar being pushed into the drawbar slot and the door opened

  • Modern drawbar in a medieval drawbar slot in Cantwell's Castle

References[]

  1. ^ "An Illustrated Glossary of Castle Architecture". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Castle Learning Center Glossary". www.castles-of-britain.com. Retrieved 2021-07-15.
  3. ^ Breen, Martin; Cróinín, Ristéard Ua (2020). "SECURING AGAINST THE UNFAITHFUL STEWARD". Archaeology Ireland. 34 (1): 30–33. doi:10.2307/26915539. ISSN 0790-892X.
  4. ^ The Heritage Unit of Cork County Council (2017). "Heritage Castles of County Cork" (PDF). Cork County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-05-24. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  5. ^ Berryman, Duncan (2011). "The defensibility of Irish Tower Houses". The Castle Studies Group Journal. 24: 260–68. ISSN 2044-4605.


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