Signal tower

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a low N-S running ridge c. 320m WSW of the tip of Wicklow Head and c. 3.3kms to the ESE of the centre of Wicklow Town (OD c. 73m). Located on a local high point in a locally undulating landscape with a N-S running gully located adjacent (c. 90m) to the E between this site and the coastline (where there are steep rocky sea cliffs), and between the original Wicklow Head Lighthouse (NIAH Reg. No. 16403102; this site) and the later Wicklow Head Lighthouse (NIAH Reg. No. 16403101) located 130m to the E. The immediate area consists of (an enclosed) rough unimproved scrubland in all directions from this site with pastureland, defined by linear field boundaries, located to the W, SW, and NW of this site after c. 250ms. The adjacent signal station\towers in the signal station chain were located at Mizen Head (SMR WI036-022----), located c. 12.25kms to the SSW, now demolished, and at Ballygannon (WI013-145----), located c. 17.28kms to the NNW, now demolished (site unknown). The site of this signal station at Wicklow Head is located c. 915m SE of a (penal) church site (WI025-017001-) located at Bride’s Head, and c. 790ms N\NNE of a coastal promontory fort (WI031-110----) located on a small narrow peninsula to the SW of Dunbar Head.

The signal station was apparently established at the original (upper) Wicklow Head Lighthouse (NIAH Reg. No. 16403102) which was constructed in 1778-9 (one of two lights built at Wicklow Head between c. 1769-79). The six-stage lighthouse is 30m tall and has a distinctive octagonal-plan. It was designed by John Trail whilst serving as architect\engineer to the Commissioners of Revenue (Rynne 2006, 406). These two lighthouses were later superseded by two new lighthouses (NIAH Reg. No. 16403101) to the E, built 1816-8. It is not entirely clear if the signal crew of the signal station were accommodated at the upper or lower lighthouse but it seems more likely (for visibility and signalling purposes) that the signal station was at the upper lighthouse on the high ground to site. It is thought that the signal mast was the only addition made to the site when the signal station was established, and that the signal crew were housed within existing buildings to site (Kerrigan 1995, 161). The signal mast was erected by September 1805 (Kerrigan 1995, 276).

The signal station was part of a system of over 80 signal stations constructed by the British Board of Ordnance in the first decade of the nineteenth 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 Malin Head in Donegal to Dublin Bay. It was abandoned by the mid-1810s when the treat of a French invasion diminished (Kerrigan 1995, 157-66).

Compiled by: Stuart Rathbone

Uploaded on: 07/10/22

References

Rynne, C. 2006 Industrial Ireland 1750-1930: an archaeology. Cork. The Collins Press.

Kerrigan P.M. 1995 Castles and fortifications in Ireland 1485-1945. Cork. The Collins Press.

Rathbone, S. 2020. ‘The Construction, Survival and use of Signal Defensible Guard Houses in Connacht and Ulster’; unpublished PhD Thesis, Institute of Technology, Sligo