This is a grand entrance, but on a small scale. The area has an intimate feel to it despite the obviously lavish construction. My French is not really up to the task, but it appears that this construction had something to do with Henry VIII of England, and may have been a palace of some sort.

The central doorway is for carriages, while the two side doors are for pedestrians. There is probably a security issue in evidence here - it is easy to control the passage of people on foot through the side doors, while the central door would only be opened when a carriage was expected.

There is one peculiarity. The half-timber loggia on the right was almost certainly built after the entrance itself, yet it is in a rather primitive style (that is certainly not unattractive). How did this come to be added? The construction technique had certain advantages for this application. Because the construction is light, it need not be supported by massive columns - the light timber posts are sufficient to support it, leaving more of the ground open. It may have been part of the purpose of its construction to provide a place for the guard to shelter during inclement weather.

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