Reginald's Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reginald's Tower |
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Reginald's Tower in Waterford, Ireland
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| General information | |
| Type | Tower |
| Town or city | Waterford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°15′37.5″N 7°6′19.5″W / 52.260417°N 7.105417°W |
| Renovated | 13th–14th century |
| Height | 54 ft |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 42½ ft |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Stone |
Reginald's Tower is a very old tower in Waterford, Ireland. It has been used for many hundreds of years. This tower is a super important landmark in Waterford. It was a key part of the city's medieval defences.
It is the oldest public building in Ireland. It is also the only city monument in Ireland that still has a Norse or Viking name.
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Building a Historic Tower
Reginald's Tower was built by the Normans when they arrived in Waterford. The tower's name comes from the Irish name Raghnall. This name likely refers to one of the many Viking rulers of the town. It might be Ragnall mac Gillemaire, who was the last Norse ruler there.
The tower was probably built between 1253 and 1280. In 1185, Prince John of England came to Waterford. He helped to rebuild the city walls, and the tower was part of this plan.
What the Tower Looks Like
The tower is 54 feet tall and has a round shape. It is about 42½ feet wide. The roof is shaped like a cone. Inside the thick walls, there is a spiral staircase. The walls are 10 feet thick at the bottom and 7 feet thick at the top.
The tower was a key part of Waterford's old city walls. These walls formed a triangle with other structures. Reginald's Tower was on high ground near the River Suir. It is also close to the historic French Church. People sometimes call it the Ring Tower.
Waterford's Medieval Defences
In medieval times, seventeen towers circled the city of Waterford. Reginald's Tower was the largest of these. Today, six towers still stand. They are considered the best examples of medieval city defence in Ireland. The other towers are the Watch Tower, Double Tower, French Tower, Semi-Lunar Tower, and Beach Tower.
The Tower Through Time
Over the centuries, Reginald's Tower has had many different uses. It has been a place where coins were made, a prison, and a military storage building.
Famous Visitors and Events
The tower is famous for a wedding that happened there. Richard de Clare, a powerful earl, married Aoife (pronounced eefa). She was the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough, the King of Leinster.
Sometimes, the tower was used as a royal castle. King John visited in 1210. He ordered new coins to be made there. Later, Richard II visited the tower in 1394 and again in 1399. He used the tower to store his weapons. On July 27, 1399, Richard left Reginald's Tower as King of England and Wales. When he arrived in England, he was captured by the future Henry IV.
Battles and Victories
In 1463, the Irish Parliament ordered coins to be made in Reginald's Tower. These coins had the words "Civitas Waterford" on them. In 1495, the tower's cannons helped to defeat Perkin Warbeck. He was trying to take the throne from Henry VII. Cannons from the tower even sank one of his ships during an 11-day battle. This was the first time an Irish city successfully used artillery. A cannon from this ship was found in the River Suir in 1901.
This victory gave Waterford its motto: Urbs Intacta Manet. This means "Waterford remains the unconquered city."
In 1649, the army of Oliver Cromwell attacked Waterford. But they could not capture the city. They returned in 1650 and were successful this time. A cannonball is still stuck high up on the north wall of the tower. People say it is from this siege.
In 1690, James II of England lost the Battle of the Boyne. He is said to have climbed to the top of the tower. He took one last look at his lost kingdom before leaving for France.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the tower stored ammunition. In the early 1800s, it was used as a prison.
Reginald's Tower Today
In 1861, Reginald's Tower became owned by the Waterford Corporation. It was the home of the Chief Constable of Waterford. People lived in the tower until 1954. After that, the building was turned into a museum.
During the Second World War, it was used as an air raid shelter. Now, it is the Waterford Viking Museum. It shows many archaeological finds. These finds came from a dig in 2003 at Woodstown, near the city.
The tower is in the Waterford Viking Triangle in the center of Waterford city. A Viking longship is displayed outside Reginald's Tower.
