5. Watergate

The twin turreted Watergate is one of the most iconic structures within Fermanagh and is the most widely recognisable part of the Castle Complex. The Watergate is the first landmark seen when approaching Enniskillen from the West.

William Cole was the key player in the development of the town of Enniskillen, including the construction of the Watergate. In 1609, he became Constable of Enniskillen Castle and was given the job of extending the accommodation at the Castle which at the time housed only ten warders. By 1611, Cole had begun to build a ‘fair house on the foundation of the old castle’ and had completed the turreted building, now known as the Watergate, by 1614. He was knighted in Dublin in 1617.

There is a well in the Watergate – lined with stonework, approximately 13 ft deep. The well would normally have been full. It is only with the lowering of the water levels that explains why it now is dry. Excavations were carried out too, to discover if the Watergate had ever been a gate to the waterways – the answer was no. Indeed, referring to this building as ‘the Watergate’ is relatively recent as Ordnance Survey maps of the 19^th and 20^th centuries refer to it as the “old castle in ruins.”