564 The Pillar Towers of the British Islands, [No. 5 



along the whole length and depth of the face of the stone. Un- 

 fortunately the stones of the Abernethy Tower are so much disintegrat- 

 ed that, if any such marks ever existed, they are not now to be found. 

 They have not been noticed in the Pillar Towers of Ireland. (Arched- 

 ologia, v. 34. p. 33.) At the time the adjoining church was built, two 

 bells were placed in the Tower ; but the situation was found incon- 

 venient, and they were removed. 



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P. T. Antrim. Donnaghmore. Old Church Fore. 



The simple cross over the door of the Antrim Pillar Tower proves 

 its Christian origin, and resembles that over the Church of St. Fechen 

 at Fore ; this saint died in A. D. 664. The crucifixion over the 

 Donnaghmore and Brechin doorways proves that they were built at a 

 more modern period. 



We can suppose that the watcher on the Tower, on the approach of 

 danger, could collect his friends by the horn, drum, or cymbals ; and 

 priests, in more peaceable times, could exhibit their relics, and instruct 

 their followers, from the elevated doorway. These suppositions serve 

 to explain the number of the Towers in unsettled countries, and among 

 a turbulent race of people. 



To the third variety of Pillar Towers belong Tunahoe, Queen's 

 County ; Seven Churches, Smaller Tower Norsida ; Kildare, Kildare ; 

 Antrim, Antrim ; Donnaghmore, Meath ; and Brechin, Scotland. 



Such are the three classes in which the Irish Pillar Towers may 

 be arranged. The first or original form was most probably erected 

 by Eastern Missionaries, chiefly for religious purposes ; and the other 

 two classes were modifications introduced in the course of time, as the 

 buildings were more required as places of defence. As such, they were 

 probably used both before, and after the Buddhist Eastern religion had 

 ceased in the country in which it was first propagated, as they afforded 

 „ the simplest, and most effectual means of protection ; and this explains 



