Melmore Tower — An Meall Mór

Situated on a moderate slope that descends to the N before reaching steep slopes and cliffs to the E (48m OD). The surrounding area consists of open rough pasture with a collapsed stock-control rubble wall running close to the steep slopes and cliffs to the N, E and W. The site has unobstructed views in all directions except to the S, where the rising ground blocks the view. This signal tower was original built to be intervisible from the signal towers at Horn Head (DG023-005----), now partially collapsed, located c. 12.8kms to the WSW; and the site of signal tower at Fanad Head (DG009-012----), now demolished and replaced by a lighthouse, which is located 10.1kms to the ENE. Site lies c. 100m to the S of a promontory fort (DG008-030----), which is located at the tip of Melmore Head. Originally a two-storey square-plan signal tower (ext. dims. 5.8m N-S x 5.8m E-W) constructed of rubble stone masonry. The signal tower is now collapsed and consists mainly of foundations with a small section of intact wall surviving along the W side, and a slightly more intact section of wall surviving to the E side. The outer face of the surviving W section of the wall features a pronounced batter. At the S of the W portions of the foundations, small rubble stone buttresses have been built up against the outer wall face. A narrow pillar of stonework extends upwards from the middle of the E wall, which appears to be the remains of the pillar between two ground floor windows. The rest of the base of the signal tower is concealed by a dense spread of rubble stone. The rubble from the collapsed signal tower is present on all sides of the tower base. It extends furthest to the N suggesting the signal tower collapsed in that direction, falling down the slope. A small section of mortared brick work is visible amongst the collapsed rubble. The signal tower is located in the centre of a rectangular rubble stone enclosure. The enclosure wall is largely collapsed. The low foundations of two small rectangular buildings are located within the enclosure, one against the SE corner, the other against the SW corner. The foundation in the SE corner of the enclosure consists of grassed-over wall footings with frequent visible stonework (int. dims. 7m x 1.45m). This building is shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map, surveyed 1834-6, suggesting the building may have been occupied at the same time as the signal tower. The building in the SW corner of the enclosure consists of a grassed over earthen bank with frequent protruding stones (int. dims. 3.35m x 1.7m). This building is not shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map suggesting the building was possibly a later addition to the site. The SE and SW corners of the enclosure are connected to the long stock-control wall, which runs off for a considerable distance to the SE and SW. The signal tower was part of a system of over 80 signal stations constructed by the British Board of Ordnance in the first decade of the 19th century to warn of the approach of a French invasion fleet. Signalling between sites was accomplished using a naval signal post. The system formed a continuous chain from Dublin Bay running clockwise all the way around the coast to Malin Head in County Donegal. It was abandoned by the mid-1810s when the threat of a French invasion diminished (Kerrigan 1995, 157-66). Compiled by: Stuart Rathbone Date of upload: 13/08/21 Images: DG008-027----.01.jpg View from N DG008-027----.02.jpg View of the E wall from W DG008-027----.03.jpg View of N elevation from S DG008-027----.04.jpg NE corner from NW DG008-027----.05.jpg SE corner from SW DG008-027----.06.jpg SW corner from SW DG008-027----.07.jpg W elevation DG008-027----.08.jpg Remains of building to SE from N. DG008-027----.09.jpg Remains of building to the SW from N DG008-027----.10.jpg Remains of building to the SW from NE DG008-027----.11.jpg Remains of enclosure wall to S DG008-027----.12.jpg Field wall to site