Page:The histories of Launceston and Dunheved, in the county of Cornwall.djvu/263

 SOUTH GATE. 237 ancient than the portion next the town. Besides the ponderous portcullis which occupied part of the aperture there were other important uses to which it was applied. Among these was the suspension of a strong door by which the passage could suddenly be closed. The port- cullis, it will be remembered, was a strong framework of —•• ~'~ THE SOUTH GATE FROM WITHIN THE TOWN WALL. timber, united in the form of a harrow, and pointed with iron at the bottom. It was raised and lowered by machinery in the keeper's chambers over the arch. There were two such chambers above this arch, each approached by a staircase, which led also to the promenade on the wall. The highest point of the whole building was