In early medieval times, the Vikings built a fortified settlement with a tower close to the sea. When the Anglo-Normans captured the town in 1170, this tower was rebuilt and the settlement was enclosed in stone walls.
When the Spanish spy Don Diego Ortiz visited Waterford in 1574, he said that the town was enclosed in a stone wall with a perimeter of about 1 mile, with seventeen defensive towers with cannons on them.
Today only six towers survive, along with long stretches of town wall, the largest collection of all Ireland.
This is the sixth of the six surviving towers of the medieval fortification of Waterford.
It was built on a natural rocky outcrop to have a view and control over the River Suir up to Grannagh Castle, about 4.5 km northwest from here, and down to Reginald's Tower, about 550 metres east.
It was built in the 15th century and is a nice example of tower with Irish crenellations. It was heavily rebuilt in the 17th century.
The tower can be seen from the high side of the town, where a small park is, and from the car park below, where long sections of the town wall are still visible.
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