Indicated — Town Parks

On the N side of West Gate Street and locally known as the 'tholsel'. This four-storey tower house (ext. dims.7.65m N-S; 6.85m E-W), with base-batter, is rendered externally and, on the ground floor, internally. A large recess in the S wall indicates where wall was partially destroyed and the rebuild set back from the original face. The only surviving windows are narrow loops. There is a murder-hole over the stairs at ground-floor level. In the 17th century the tower was altered, probably to make it more commodious. In the N wall at first-floor level there is a fireplace inscribed with the date 1637 and on the third floor is a 17th-century fireplace with chamfered mantle. In the 18th century a clock-tower and lantern were added (Craig 1982, 314). The original spiral stairs, up to third-floor level, has been replaced with a stone and wooden staircase. In recent times the building was used to house a tourist office. (Farrelly and FitzPatrick 1993). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011