Though the name Buttergate might give the impression that this was one of the many accesses to the town of Drogheda, this section of the town wall has never had the function of a gate, since no road has ever gone through it.
It was built in the 13th century by the Normans and was probably a defensive tower right above one the main gates to the medieval town, St. John's Gate.
The name itself, Butter, could be a corruption of the word "Buttress", though according to other sources the name could be a corruption of Bothàr Gate.
What we see today is a 26 metres long section of wall along the northeast-southwest (75°-255°) axis with a thickness of about 60 centimetres.
A square block is behind the wall and it's the defensive tower itself, with an archway 3.40 metres wide and a wall 90 centimetres thick.
This part of the medieval walls of Drogheda has been recently brought up back to light after many years of oblivion. Unfortunately this rebirth comes with some backlashes, and youths use this place to express their bad manners. Paint graffiti, beer cans, broken bottles and several other kinds of rubbish can be found among the ruins. We also found a pair of shoes and a rucksack left there to be recollected at a later moment.
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