Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, fyc. 



237 



that it presents no architectural features differing from those in the doorway of 

 the Round Tower of Kildare, which are not obviously derived, like the latter, 

 from the debased Roman architecture of the Lower Empire, and which it would 

 be hazardous in the extreme to deny may be of a very early age, earlier, at 

 least, than any Norman examples of the kind, noticed as remaining in England 



Of capitals decorated with human heads we have 

 examples as old as the sixth century, in the Syriac MS. 

 of the Gospels already referred to. They are used in 

 the earliest examples of Romanesque architecture in the 

 German churches, of which a beautiful example, re- 

 markable for its similarity in design to some of those 

 at Timahoe, is found in St. Ottmar's Chapel at Niirn- 

 berg, assigned to the tenth century. 



Of the bulbous, or tun-shaped bases, an example may be seen on a representa- 

 tion of a temple, figured on a coin of the tyrant Maxentius; and their similarity in 

 style of design to the rude baluster columns of the oldest Saxon churches in Eng- 

 land, as those of Bricksworth and Earlsbarton in Northamptonshire, can scarcely 

 fail to strike the architectural antiquary. The strongest evidence in favour of 



the antiquity of this doorway may, however, be drawn 

 from the construction and general style of the Tower, 

 as in the fine-jointed character of the ashlar work in the 

 doorway and windows; and still more in the straight- 

 sided arches of all the windows, which, with the excep- 

 tion of a small quadrangular one, perfectly agree in style 

 with those of the most ancient churches and Round 

 Towers in Ireland, and with those of the churches in 

 England now considered as Saxon. 

 In the opinions which I have thus hazarded, so opposite to the generally, 

 if not universally adopted conclusions of eminent historical antiquaries, as to the 

 civilization of the Irish previously to the Danish irruptions, and still more, of archi- 

 tectural antiquaries, as to the antiquity of ornamental architecture in the British 

 Islands, I am sensitively aware that I am running the greatest danger of 

 being deemed rash and visionary. But confiding, as I do, in the honesty of my 

 purpose, which is solely to inquire after truth in a spirit of candour, such an 



