The Round Towers

Tall, narrow, round towers, tapering from base to summit, are found in abundance in Ireland and occasionally in Scotland; they are the oldest and most remarkable remains of ecclesiastical architecture in the British Isles. Controversies regarding them have been decided by the investigations of Dr. Petrie. There is now no doubt that they are the work of Christian architects, and built for religious purposes. They seem to have been in all cases in the immediate vicinity of churches or monasteries, and were used of necessity as strongholds, into which, in times of danger, the inhabitants of the neighboring country might retreat with their valuables. After the introduction of bells, they were used as bell-towers. About one hundred and eighteen are still to be seen in Ireland; twenty of these are entire or nearly so; Scotland has three, some dating back to the sixth century. (See Dr. Petrie's "Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland, Anterior to the Anglo-Norman Invasion.")