Waterloo Tower

Overlooking East Ferry and estuary to N, at N perimeter of Tower wood. Circular tower (H c. 10m; diam. c. 5m) built in 1815 to celebrate battle of same name (Dennehy 1990, 63). Lintelled door in S side; spiral stairs give access to parapet with brick battlements. Plaque over door inscribed "Waterloo 1815"; second plaque in memory of William Bagwell, builder of nearby East Grove House, c. 1826. Tower may have been built with stone from Ballynakilla castle which stood in vicinity of house (Healy 1988, 131). Power (1923, 200), citing place-name evidence, notes 'an artifical mound -probably Norman - which stood on summit of Eastgrove Hill'; this is approximate position of tower but now no trace of such a mound. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009