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Castle Terminology: Murder Holes

  

A murder hole or meurtrière is a hole in the ceiling of a gateway or passageway in a fortification through which the defenders could shoot, throw or pour harmful substances or objects such as rocks, arrows, scalding water, hot sand, quicklime, or boiling oil, down on attackers. The strongly protected gateway at Harlech Castle is one of the many examples found throughout Wales.

Below: (1) view of the gate passage at Harlech Castle from above, (2) ground view of Harlech's murder holes.

 

 

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