Saint John's Tower (Castledermot)

Saint John's Tower
Túr Naomh Sheáin
Shown within Ireland
Basic information
Location	Skenagun, Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland
Geographic coordinates	52°54′50″N 6°50′16″W / 52.914024°N 6.837788°WCoordinates: 52°54′50″N 6°50′16″W / 52.914024°N 6.837788°W
Affiliation	Catholic
Heritage designation	National Monument
Architectural style	Norman
Founder	Walter de Riddlesford
Groundbreaking	1210
Height (max)	10 m (30 ft)
Materials	Stone

Saint John's Tower, also called the Pigeon Tower, is a tower in Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland. A former bell tower, it is all that remains of a medieval leper hospital and is a National Monument.

Location

Saint John's Tower is located on the northern end of the Main Street, Castledermot.

History

The Priory and Hospital of St John the Baptist was founded by Walter de Riddlesford and his wife in 1210, just outside the Dublin gate of the walled town of Castledermot. It was occupied by the Crutched Friars (Fratres Cruciferi) until its dissolution in 1541.^[1]

References

1. A brief history of Castledermot, Irish Walled Towns Network