A heavy iron grate reinforced with thick bars, the portcullis slides down grooved stone channels to seal an entry. Operated by a winch in the gatehouse, it can be dropped swiftly in emergencies. Some feature spikes at the bottom, preventing forced entry and trapping intruders beneath if timed correctly.
Thick iron bars descend within deep-cut stone grooves, their edges worn from years of grinding descent. Rust clings to the joints, flakes of orange staining the stone. Above, the heavy chain coils within a recessed winch, taut and unmoving.