Antrim Round Tower The Antrim round tower is complete and is situated on Parkland in Steeple Townland. We know the tower is of early construction as the doorway is lintelled. In the late 11th century the towers featured romanesque type doorways and arched doorways. On most of the early lintelled doorways the lintel stone split. A relieving stone/block was added to some doorways above the lintel stone, but this didn't really help. The block, lintel and sill stone on Antrim round tower have all split. The relieving block is decorated with a ringed cross. A lintelled doorway on the round tower at Donaghmore, County Meath was later replaced with a tripartite arched doorway. Also present at the site is a huge bullaun stone known locally as the Witch's stone. Two bullauns are present in the top of the stone. |
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Situated: From the south travelling north on the A26. Take a right turn at the roundabout for the B158. Then take a right turn onto Steeple Road, after the Antrim Civic Centre, sign-posted Antrim Round Tower. Follow signs for the tower. Discoverer Map 14: J 1543 8768. Last visit Aug 2012. Longitude: 6° 12' 32.3" W Latitude: 54° 43' 26.6" N Photos: José Gutierrez. |
Approx date: Possibly 10th/Early 11th Century. Dimensions: Height 28 m. Diameter: 4.8 m. Door: Above ground 2.3 m. Type: Lintelled with inclined jams and a relieving block above the lintel. |
Windows: Eight, four in the Bell-floor and four in the drum. All the windows are lintelled. Features: A carving of a cross above the doorway. Cap: Conical and rebuilt. |
