It had all the usual features: a wide moat, a high stone wall, an iron portcullis raised just beyond the drawbridge.

They passed beneath the spiked iron portcullis and under a murder hole before emerging in the outer ward.

Although the drawbridge was down, the heavy iron portcullis prevented unwanted entry.

The gates stood open to him, the rusted iron portcullis drawn up.

He sat straight atop his horse, watching as the iron portcullis was winched upward.

He moved his horse aside and made a sign so that the iron portcullis might be lifted by unseen hands within the towers.

By the time she crossed under the iron portcullis, her stomach was in churning turmoil.

The six of them marched silently through the rain and mud and in under the barreled roof beyond the iron portcullis.

Chareos reached the rear wall of the stockade and located the iron portcullis.

With a groaning of chains, the drawbridge lowered; the iron portcullis rose.