This Dublin round tower survived until the late 18th century, making it one of the last medieval round towers to be lost in Ireland’s capital city. Associated with the medieval church of St. Michael le Pole near Ship Street, the tower’s final decades are exceptionally well-documented through historical accounts, drawings, and archaeological evidence.

Historical Documentation and Demolition

The tower originally stood about 90 feet (27 meters) high and had been carefully maintained—in 1738, an antiquarian secured funding from the Dean and Chapter of St. Patrick’s Cathedral for major repairs, with the structure scaffolded from ground level and “well pointed with stone and mortar, both within and without.” These repairs preserved the tower for nearly four decades.

However, the great storm of November 1775 proved catastrophic. The tower was so severely shaken that stones fell out and the center became “bulged,” creating a dangerous lean that threatened both the adjacent schoolhouse and neighboring buildings. When consulted, skilled architects reported that repair was impossible—any attempt to erect scaffolding would inevitably cause the building’s collapse.

After three years of dangerous instability, the tower was finally demolished in 1778 (some sources say 1781) at a cost of £19 5s. 9d (c. €4,528 or $5,208 in 2025). The salvaged stone was practically reused to repair the churchyard wall and engine house.

The Integrated Schoolhouse

What makes this tower’s story unique is its integration with educational use. Around 1706, Dr. John Jones, “an eminent Latin master,” obtained permission to convert the old church walls into a schoolhouse. The building consisted of a large schoolroom with three small rooms at one end, and crucially, “a flight of stairs in the tower leading to the upper rooms.” This meant the round tower was actively used as part of the school’s circulation system.

Two drawings by Gabriel Beranger from 1766 and 1776 show the tower rising through the west end of the schoolhouse roof—a remarkable image of medieval and early modern architecture combined. The Chapter had specifically stipulated in 1706 that Dr. Jones “should not pull down the monument or tower of St. Michael of Paul’s.”

Archaeological Evidence

Excavations in 1980 by Kieran Campbell and Margaret Gowen revealed the partial remains of the 12th-century church and, significantly, foundations of what they described as an “integrated round tower type belfry.” The archaeological evidence confirmed three broad phases: pre-12th-century activity, the 12th-century stone church with probable round tower foundations, and post-1682 reuse as schoolhouse and almshouse.

The west gable of the church measured 7.2 meters long and 0.9 meters wide, with foundation courses of the adjoining north and south walls also uncovered. These foundations remained extant below ground level as late as 2002.

Historical Context

The parishes of St. Bride, St. Michael le Pole, and part of St. Stephen’s were united by Act of Council in 1682, after which the church served as the Diocesan Schoolhouse. The site’s evolution from medieval church to educational facility to eventual demolition reflects the changing urban landscape of Dublin over several centuries.

The tower’s loss represents not just the destruction of a medieval monument, but the end of a unique example of architectural adaptation where ancient and early modern structures coexisted in practical harmony for over 70 years.