The excavations conducted by Glasscock in 1968-69 at Leigh revealed the complete foundation outline of a round tower that had been entirely destroyed above ground level, leaving only its buried footprint as archaeological evidence. Located strategically between two churches at the site, this tower represents one of the few Irish round towers known primarily through systematic archaeological investigation rather than surviving architectural remains.

Archaeological Discovery and Methodology

The 1968-69 excavations by Glasscock represent important early work in the systematic archaeological investigation of Irish round tower sites. The ability to trace the complete wall foundations despite the tower’s total destruction above ground demonstrates the value of archaeological investigation in documenting vanished monuments that might otherwise be completely lost to history.

The excavation revealed precise measurements: an external diameter of 4.9 meters and wall thickness of 1.15 meters, dimensions that place the Leigh tower within the typical size range for Irish round towers. These measurements provide valuable data for understanding round tower construction standards and proportional relationships.

Strategic Positioning Between Churches

The tower’s location “between the two churches” indicates careful medieval planning that positioned the round tower to serve both ecclesiastical buildings within the monastic complex. This arrangement suggests the tower functioned as a central element coordinating activities between different religious structures, possibly serving both as a bell tower for coordinated services and as a storage facility for shared resources.

The positioning between churches is unusual among documented Irish round tower sites, where towers typically stand adjacent to a single major church. This arrangement may reflect the particular evolution of the Leigh monastic site or special liturgical requirements that necessitated central coordination between multiple religious buildings.

Complete Destruction and Archaeological Value

The tower’s reduction to foundation-level remains illustrates how completely these substantial medieval structures could vanish from the landscape. The total absence of above-ground remains suggests either systematic stone robbing for building materials or complete structural collapse followed by site clearance.

Despite this destruction, the archaeological investigation successfully recovered crucial information about the tower’s size, construction techniques, and relationship to other site elements. This demonstrates how systematic excavation can recover valuable data about monuments that appear to be entirely lost.

Foundation Construction Evidence

The survival of wall foundations with measurable thickness (1.15 meters) indicates the tower was built with substantial footings appropriate for supporting a structure that likely reached 25-30 meters in height when complete. The foundation construction would have required careful preparation and significant quantities of stone, reflecting the monastery’s resources and commitment to building a permanent, impressive structure.

Ecclesiastical Context

The presence of two churches at Leigh suggests this was a monastic site of considerable complexity and importance, capable of supporting multiple religious buildings and the associated round tower. The investment in such substantial ecclesiastical architecture indicates the monastery possessed significant economic resources and served a large community.

Research Significance

The Leigh excavations contribute important data to the corpus of Irish round tower studies by providing precise measurements and site relationships for a completely vanished example. This archaeological approach complements the architectural studies of surviving towers by documenting examples that would otherwise be unknown.

Documentation and Preservation

The systematic recording of the foundation remains through archaeological excavation ensures that knowledge of the Leigh round tower is preserved despite the complete loss of its visible elements. This documentation provides a permanent record that can inform broader studies of Irish round tower distribution, construction techniques, and site relationships.

Methodological Importance

The Leigh excavations demonstrate the potential for archaeological investigation to expand our understanding of Irish round tower sites beyond the surviving visible examples. Many other tower sites may preserve foundation evidence that could be recovered through similar systematic investigation.

Regional Context

As a documented round tower site in North Tipperary, Leigh contributes to understanding the distribution and character of these monuments across the region. The tower’s association with a two-church complex provides evidence of the variety of monastic arrangements that incorporated round towers.