Drawbar (defense)

A drawbar is a defensive implement used to secure a door or gate in a medieval or Early Modern building such as a castle,[1][2] but also churches and townhouses.

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.

  • Modern drawbar in a medieval drawbar slot in Cantwell's Castle
    Modern drawbar in a medieval drawbar slot in Cantwell's Castle
  • Drawbar slot at Rothe House, an early modern townhouse in Kilkenny
    Drawbar slot at Rothe House, an early modern townhouse in Kilkenny
  • Set of (at least) 3 drawbar slots at Churchclara Church ruin, Co. Kilkenny
    Set of (at least) 3 drawbar slots at Churchclara Church ruin, Co. Kilkenny

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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