Mill Gate (, ) is an old entrance to the city of
Stargard
Stargard (; 1945: ''Starogród'', 1950–2016: ''Stargard Szczeciński''; or ''Stargard an der Ihna''; ) is a city in northwestern Poland, located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 2021 it was inhabited by 67,293 people. It is situated on ...
, in
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
, which functioned also as a
watergate
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon. The scandal began in 1972 and ultimately led to Nixon's resignation in 1974, in August of that year. It revol ...
on
Ina river. In medieval times the watch lowered a portcullis into the river for the night, which secured Stargard harbour, situated behind the fortification (an exception in this area), from intruders. Both towers have the so-called Stargard blend motive (the same as in
St. Mary's church). Today the Mill Gate is the seat of Stargard's Society of Fine Art Lovers. In 2010, due to its ''historical and artistic values'' the Mill Gate, along with the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...
city walls of Stargard, was listed by the
President of Poland
The president of Poland ( ), officially the president of the Republic of Poland (), is the head of state of Poland. His or her prerogatives and duties are determined in the Constitution of Poland. The president jointly exercises the executive ...
as a
Historic Monument of Poland.
In 1454, during the
Wheat War, the people of
Szczecin
Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the Poland-Germany border, German border, it is a major port, seaport, the la ...
, to prevent transport on the Ina river, stretched chains between its banks in an attempt to stop
barge
A barge is typically a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and ocean, marine water environments. The firs ...
s from Stargard. As a result of these actions, the people of Stargard appealed to
Wartislaw IX to settle the dispute. He ruled in favor of the merchants from Stargard. As a sign of victory and contempt for the people of Szczecin, they tore down the chains obstructing the river channel and hung them on the Mill Gate, where they remain to this day.
See also
*
Waterpoort
The Waterpoort or Hoogendster Pijp is a water gate, a gate in a defensive wall that connects a city to a waterway. It is situated in Sneek, the Netherlands.
In the 15th and 16th century, a defensive wall had been built around Sneek. The city la ...
, another surviving medieval watergate.
References
{{reflist
Buildings and structures in West Pomeranian Voivodeship
Gates in Poland
Gothic architecture in Poland