halfway along the western wall of the outer ward, crossing the moat by means of a drawbridge. This arrangement meant that an attacker would have to capture the outer ward before being able to assault the inner one. The ward's curtain wall still stands to a height of between 3–6 metres (15–30 ft). Two of its towers, in the south-east and north-west corners, still stand to a height of about 7 metres (34 ft) but the north-east tower has disappeared and the south-west tower has collapsed. There are traces of buildings along the inside of the walls of the inner ward, which were presumably the domestic buildings of the castle. In the north-east corner of the inner ward the ruins of a vaulted undercroft survive under what was once the Great Chamber of the castle. Gatehouse The outer gatehouse is the castle's most prominent surviving feature and adjoins the Cliffe to Cooling road. It consists of two semi-circular towers standing high, with prominent machicolations and crenelations, flanking an arched gateway that stands high and wide. Both towers are open at the back, but were probably originally closed off by timber walls. The eastern tower incorporates a copper plate on which is enamelled the following inscription, set out both in wording and in design as an imitation of a contemporary deed: The inscription was probably intended to serve as a reassurance to the local community that the castle's purpose was purely defensive rather than being for their oppression. Further reading Scott Robertson, W.A., Coulng (sic Cooling) Castle, Archaeologia Cantiana, Vol. 11, 1877 pp. 128–144 See also Castles in Great Britain and Ireland List of castles in England References History of Kent Castles in Kent Tourist attractions in Kent Medway Ruins in Kent Grade I listed buildings in Kent