Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 359 



In their architectural features an equal diversity of style is observable ; and 

 of these the doorway is the most remarkable. When the Tower is of rubble 

 masonry, the doorways seldom present any decorations, and are either quadran- 

 gular, and covered with a lintel, of a single stone of great size, or semicircular- 

 headed, either by the construction of a regular arch, or the cutting of a single 

 stone. There are, however, two instances of very richly decorated doorways in 

 Towers of this description, namely, those of Kildare and Timahoe. In the 

 more regularly constructed Towers the doorways are always arched semi- 

 circularly, and are usually ornamented with architraves, or bands, on their ex- 

 ternal faces. The upper apertures but very rarely present any decorations, 

 and are most usually of a quadrangular form. They are, however, sometimes 

 semicircular-headed, and still oftener present the triangular or straight-sided 

 arch. I should further add, that in the construction of these apertures very fre- 

 quent examples occur of that kind of masonry, consisting of long and short 

 stones alternately, now generally considered by antiquaries as a characteristic 

 of Saxon architecture in England. 



The preceding description will, I trust, be sufficient to satisfy the reader 

 that the Round Towers were not ill-adapted to the double purpose of belfries 

 and castles, for which I have to prove they were chiefly designed ; and keeping 

 this double purpose in view, it will, I think, satisfactorily account for those 

 peculiarities in their structure, which would be unnecessary if they had been 

 constructed for either purpose alone. For example, if they had been erected to 

 serve the purpose of belfries only, there would be no necessity for making their 

 doorways so small, or placing them at so great a distance from the ground ; 

 while, on the other hand, if they had been intended solely for ecclesiastical 

 castles, they need not have been of such slender proportions and great altitude. 

 I shall now proceed to a consideration of the evidences which have forced this 

 conviction upon my own mind. And first, with respect to their original 

 use as belfries. 



1. It is most certain that the Irish ecclesiastics had, from a very early pe- 

 riod, in connexion with their cathedral and abbey churches, campanilia, or 

 detached belfries, called in the Irish annals, and other ancient authorities, by 

 the term cloigfeac. 



2. It is equally certain that, in all parts of Ireland where the Irish language 



