Uses of the Round Towers of Ireland, $c. 



similar to the doorways of the earliest churches. As an example of the qua- 

 drangular doorway, with inclined jambs, and large lintel, I have given, on the 

 preceding page, an illustration of the doorway of the Round Tower of Drumbo, 

 in the County of Down. 



This doorway, which, as well as the other parts of the Tower, is constructed 

 of spawled rubble masonry of the limestone of the country, measures five feet 

 eight inches in height, two feet six inches in breadth below the lintel, and two 

 feet ten inches at the sill stone, which is now destroyed, and the wall is four 

 feet in thickness. It is at present only about four feet above the level of the 

 ground, which has been much raised by interments about it, so that there is no 

 doubt that its elevation was originally at least eight or ten feet. The founda- 

 tions of the original church, which are situated twenty-four feet to the south- 

 east of the Tower, only remain, but they are enough to enable us to determine 

 that it was a simple quadrangle, measuring forty-five feet in length, and twenty 

 in breadth. The erection of this church is ascribed to St. Patrick in the oldest 

 Lives of that saint, and a St. Mochumma was abbot here about the beginning 

 of the seventh century. 



I have already stated that many of the Towers have in their second story 

 an aperture placed directly over the entrance doorway, but little inferior to it 

 in size, and which might be considered as a second doorway. Such second 



