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Porth-y-Tŵr ( Welsh for Tower Gate) is a
Porth-y-Tŵr is the sole survivor of four gates to the Cathedral Close, an ancient enclosure which dates back to at least the 12th century and has been described as an "ecclesiastical palladium" encircling the cathedral with a of crenellated parapet. The bell tower of Porth-y-Tŵr dates to the late 13th century, with the gateway and its south tower probably being added in the 14th century.
What is nowadays the bell tower was used by the
gatehouse
A gatehouse is a type of fortified gateway, an entry control point building, enclosing or accompanying a gateway for a town, religious house, castle, manor house, or other fortification building of importance. Gatehouses are typically the mo ...
and bell tower overlooking St Davids Cathedral in the small city of St Davids, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
, UK. It is the sole survivor of four medieval gates to the walled Cathedral Close. The 13th-century octagonal tower, adjoining the gateway, now contains the cathedral's bells.
Location and description
Porth-y-Tŵr is located less than 100m west of St Davids' main Cross Square and a similar distance southeast of the main south door of the cathedral. The bell tower to the north is a high two-storey octagonal stone building with pointed louvred windows. The gateway and rounded tower to the south are a lesser height and built from a rougher rubble stone. It looks down on the cathedral from an elevated position. ''The Buildings of Wales'' describes the slope as setting "the cathedral and Bishop's Palace in a green bowl" with 39 steps leading down the steep incline from the gateway.History
Porth-y-Tŵr is the sole survivor of four gates to the Cathedral Close, an ancient enclosure which dates back to at least the 12th century and has been described as an "ecclesiastical palladium" encircling the cathedral with a of crenellated parapet. The bell tower of Porth-y-Tŵr dates to the late 13th century, with the gateway and its south tower probably being added in the 14th century.
What is nowadays the bell tower was used by the bishops of St Davids
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
for their consistory court
A consistory court is a type of ecclesiastical court, especially within the Church of England where they were originally established pursuant to a charter of King William the Conqueror, and still exist today, although since about the middle of the ...
and a record office for the episcopal see. The south tower and the range of rooms above the gate were used as a council chamber. Well appointed apartments, suitable for the mayor, were accessed via a doorway on the town side of the tower. Joseph Lord's 1720 map of the Cathedral Close clearly shows a plan of Porth-y-Tŵr, describing it as "The East gate and rooms adjoyning to it where the Bishop's & Mayor's courts were held".
Porth-y-Tŵr was in ruins by the 20th century and, in 1929, the octagonal tower was substantially restored by ecclesiastical architect W. D. Caroe, with funding coming from an anonymous donor.
In the 1930s a ring of bells
A "ring of bells" is the name bell ringers give to a set of bells hung for English full circle ringing. The term "peal of bells" is often used, though peal also refers to a change ringing performance of more than about 5,000 changes.
By ri ...
were installed in the octagonal tower – the bells in the tower of St Davids Cathedral had been removed in 1730 to prevent the cathedral's tower collapsing. Two further bells were added in 2001, donated by the American Friends of St Davids Cathedral. There are ten bells in total, ranging from 269 kg to 1227 kg and hung for change ringing. One of the original cathedral bells is exhibited at Porth-y-Tŵr.
The towers and gateway gained a Grade I heritage listing in 1963.
See also
* Grade I listed buildings in PembrokeshireSources
* *References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porth-y-Twr Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century Grade I listed buildings in Pembrokeshire St Davids Tourist attractions in Pembrokeshire