Peel Castle - The Postern Gate
The entrance to the Postern Gate (surrounded by the railings). In the thickness of the wall, directly above the entrance, is the "murder hole". To the left is a small tower protecting the flankworks.
The Postern Gate was a kind of emergency exit by which messages could be got out of the Castle in times of danger.
To stop enemies getting in through the Postern Gate a Murder Hole was built into the wall over the tunnel.
The gate itself was a small, narrow, elavated opening in the wall through which only one attacker would be able to pass at any one time. The defenders could pour boiling water or red hot stones down on anyone trying to break in.
The way to the creek was protected by a flankwork of loopholed walls, between which defenders could move in safety between the Postern Gate and the creek in the rocks where a small boat could be brought in.
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