Sally Port

The walls of Carlisle date from the 11th century when in 1092 William Rufus, third son of William the Conqueror, ordered defences to be built around the city of Carlisle. The West Walls have survived almost intact and the walk along them gives a good view of the city. Below (to the left of the picture) is a car park .

The recess is the Sally Port. It was originally a secret entrance in the wall, an easily defensible doorway in case of siege. It is said that it was also used as a means of smuggling goods into the city to avoid paying taxes at the Toll Booth Gates above, but I can't verify this. It is now blocked up and is just a recess in the wall.

Close by, and just behind me when I was taking the photograph, is a set of steps called, appropriately enough, the sallyport steps. They date from 1813 and were added to provide easy access from the base of the walls to the wall walk above. The walls, sally port and steps are all grade 1 listed.

Nowadays they are a very busy set of steps leading from the car park into the town centre. Hundreds of people every day walk past the recess without knowing its history.