Saint John's Tower (Castledermot)

Saint John's Tower
Túr Naomh Sheáin
Religion
Affiliation	Catholic
Location
Location	Skenagun, Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland
Shown within Castledermot Show map of Castledermot Saint John's Tower (Castledermot) (Ireland) Show map of Ireland
Geographic coordinates	52°54′50″N6°50′16″W / 52.914024°N 6.837788°W / 52.914024; -6.837788
Architecture
Style	Norman
Founder	Walter de Riddlesford
Groundbreaking	1210
Specifications
Height (max)	10 m (30 ft)
Materials	Stone

Saint John's Tower, also called the Pigeon Tower, ^[1] 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. ^[2]

References

1. "Castledermot". 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
2. "A brief history of Castledermot]". 4 June 2016. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2025.