Experts believe they have discovered the original 'Long Tower' which gave its name to the well-known area of Derry’s Bogside.
Queen’s University archaeologists think a building in the grounds of Derry’s Lumen Christi college which was always assumed to be a 17th century windmill is the remains of a church round tower which gave its name to the local area. The Long Tower area was at the frontline of the troubles from the 1969 Battle of the Bogside right up until the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
The discovery may also indicate the location of a major monastic settlement, possibly indicating the site of the original church established by St Colmcille, from which Derry takes its name.
Carbon dating shows the structure is more than 300 years older than previously believed. The dimensions of the monument also indicate the original round tower would have been 150 ft tall, making it possibly the tallest in Ireland.
Stephen Doherty of the Derry Tower Heritage Group believes the breakthrough discovery throws new light on the early development of Derry.
“We have to assume that it was on a monastic site of some significance,” Mr Doherty said.
Queen’s University archaeologist, Colm Donnelly said the monument was the only medieval structure still standing in Derry.
Dr Donnelly said: “This monument is the only medieval structure still standing in Derry. All other medieval buildings that were once here are now gone, buried under the centuries of building activity that has happened in the city over the past 400 years.”
His colleague, Gerard Barrett, research by local historians suggested there was a round tower in the area, overlooking the Bogside. However, the structure was never evident on any historic maps.
Mr Doherty, who is also a teacher at Lumen Christi, said that while further work needed to be done, the discovery suggested this was the site of the monastery established by St Columba around 540.
“The textbooks will certainly need to be revised up. Up to now we had no upstanding medieval fabric surviving in our city – now we have a round tower,” Mr Doherty said.
