Martello Tower — Bullock

Bullock Martello Tower No. 10 located on private property SE of Bullock Harbour. According to Kerrigan (1995, 168) construction of the Dublin area Martello Towers and their batteries commenced in 1804 under the supervision of Colonel Benjamin Fisher of the Royal Engineers and by December 1805 all towers were armed and complete. Kerrigan (ibid., 170) recorded that; ‘The towers and batteries south of Dublin are numbered from 1 to 16, but there were only fourteen towers, as at two locations there were batteries only, while several of the towers were close to adjacent batteries’. Built on a rock outcrop for the protection of the harbor and now converted into a dwelling. Externally the Martello tower is surrounded by a low circular wall (Turner 1983, 93).  A circular tower (diam. 10.8m N-S), built of coursed granite ashlar, is gently battered to the parapet. The two storey drum 5m high is capped with a flat roof and parapet above. A narrow string course defines the level of the stairs as it reaches the roof externally and the angle of the parapet as it slopes upwards. Entry to the buildings is on the W side, up an external wooden staircase and through first floor flat headed doorway. The entry is well defended as above the doorway is a machicolation supported on five corbels. There is a drop hole through to the corridor below from the machicolation. Along the corridor there are three steps down to a round-headed doorway which provides access to the interior. The garrison room or first floor room is 6.1 m in overall length and width with flat walls to the N and S while the E and W sides are bow-shaped following an arc. There are narrow flat headed opes at the NE and SW, with a wall press at the NW. A stone spiral staircase opens off the room to the south within the wall width (2.5m) providing access to the ground floor and to the roof. The ceiling at first floor level is vaulted and rises to 3.6 m above the wooden floor between ground and first floor. Below, at ground level, the space is similar in plan dimensions and form to the level above but it is lower in height (2.35m) and is covered by a timber floor. From the roof level which consists of an open circular area surrounded by a broad parapet (2.4m) with a canon pivot at the centre, there are four steps down to floor level of the machicolation which has gun loops through its external parapet. The above description is derived from planning drawings executed and in the copyright of Simone Stephenson submitted to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown planning authority as part of a refurbishment planning application D04A/1026 for Mrs. Helen Stephenson.  Martello Tower No. 10 described by Kerrigan (1995, 173) as; 'North-west of Dalkey Island at a distance of just over a mile is tower no. 10, overlooking the approach to Bullock Harbour, in sight of the Dalkey Island tower and the next tower further to the north-west at Sandycove. Sandycove tower, no. 11, similar in basic design to those at Bullock and Seapoint'.  See attached plan of Bullock Martello Tower No. 10 courtesy of the Irish Military Archives - Archival Reference Code: E/MA/MPD/AD119454-008 See attached Taylor's 1816 Map showing the location of the Martello Tower. Taylor, J. 1816 Taylor's map of the environs of Dublin: extending 10 to 14 miles from the castle, by actual survey, on a scale of 2 inches to one mile. Compiled by: Margaret Keane Revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 23 January 2023