Drogheda Gate

#92 Saint Laurence's Gate
Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
13th Century
This is NOT an official Lego site

Drogheda was founded on the banks of the River Boyne in 911 by Danish Vikings. For many years it rivalled Dublin in importance as a trading center. The Viking meeting place on the hill on the south side of the river was used by Walter de Lacy about 1180 as the site for his Norman motte castle. The Millmount artillery fort now stands on that site. On the north side of the Boyne another town grew. The St. Laurence's Gate which I have recreated in Lego is generally regarded as part of the town wall or barbican. There was great rivally between the two towns until a monk in 1412 persuaded the towns to join together as one. The massive Gate is virtually all that remains of the medieval fortifications of Drogheda. It's an impressive landmark as you arrive at town center from the south.

The twin-towered gate originally was three stories tall plus battlements, and was just over 42 feet in height. In the 15th century two further stories were added to the tower, bringing it's height to 63 feet and making it even more formidible. St. Laurence's Gate is considered the finest remaining fortified gate in Ireland, and rivals those in Canterbury, England in its glory. It's interesting that most books and websites describe four stories, when clearly there was a fifth floor in each tower with arrowslits seen on both the section and the pictures. Unfortunately ongoing renovations detract from the pictures I took in June 2003 (see bottom pair).

Photos of the Lego Model Built August 2003 Note: My model shows a battlement at the fourth floor. While not present in modern times, a corbel and dotted line is seen on the side section.

Front View of the Gate from battlement level	Front (east) View from ground level	Southeast (Side) View

Aerial View of the back of St. Laurence's Gate	Ground level View of the interesting back of the Gate	Detail of the entrance and back parapets

Build Your Own

Ground floor plan	First floor plan with stairs to second floor	Battlement plan with third floor gallery

Tower Plans Note: I discovered these plans and sections in a display at Cahir Castle in Co. Tipperary, and photographed them!

Floor Plans	Sections


Front Elevation	Back Elevation