A gatehouse is a small house next to a gate on the edge of a park or country estate. a small building next to the gate of a park or at the entrance to the land surrounding a big house
The most important part of a castle as far as its defense was concerned, the entry being the weakest point Older ones were little more than a strong arch with heavy iron-bound wooden gates and drawbars and a guard chamber on top or to the side Later on, flanking towers were added to the gateway, and Portcullises and Drawbridges Whereas the Keep was a passive defense, the gatehouse was right up in front, and became the most elaborate building in the later castles