Watch Tower (Waterford) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watch Tower |
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| General information | |
| Type | Fortified tower |
| Town or city | Waterford |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°15′22.49″N 7°6′45.09″W / 52.2562472°N 7.1125250°W |
| Construction started | 13th century |
| Renovated | 15th century |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Stone |
The Watch Tower is an old stone tower in Waterford, Ireland. You can find it on Manor Street. This tower is one of only six towers that are still standing from Waterford's old city walls.
Contents
What is the Watch Tower?
The Watch Tower is a strong, round building made of stone. It was built a long time ago to help protect the city. It has a special shape that tells us when it was built.
How Old is the Tower?
Experts believe the Watch Tower was first built in the 13th century. That's over 700 years ago! Later, around the 15th or 16th century, some changes were made. Narrow openings called arrow slits were added for archers. There were also small holes, called gun loops, for cannons. These changes helped the tower use artillery (big guns) to defend the city.
Why Was it Built?
The tower was built only for defense. It does not have any windows facing the city. This shows it was not meant for people to live in. It was a military building. There are two ways to get into the tower from the back. One entrance is at ground level. The other is higher up, at the level where guards would walk on the city wall.
What Happened to the Close Gate?
Near the Watch Tower, there used to be a gate called the Close Gate. It stood where a road is now. In the 1700s, this gate was taken down. It was removed by a person named Bullocks Wyse. He wanted to make it easier to get to his land.
Other Towers in Waterford
The Watch Tower is not the only old tower left in Waterford. There are five other towers that are still standing. These include the famous Reginald's Tower, the Double Tower, the French Tower, the Semi-Lunar Tower, and the Beach Tower.
