1911 – Hick’s Tower, Malahide, Co. Dublin

One of a chain of seventy-four Martello Towers, built between 1802 and 1815 to defend against the possibility of invading Napoleonic forces. They were built in prominent positions with overlapping range of their guns. The towers are generally 12 metres in height and 12 metres in diameter with walls 2 metres thick. Hick’s Tower was built in 1805. Originally, the ground floor stored 30 barrels of gunpowder, cannon balls and water tanks with a capacity of 465 gallons. The first floor housed the living and sleeping quarters for up to twelve soldiers while the top floor, with a parapet, held a 24 pounder cannon with a range of about 1600 metres.

Architect, Frederick Hicks supposedly acquired the tower for £175 in 1910, and with colossal labour, cut windows in the exterior wall and added a conical roof transforming it into an Arts and Crafts style home for himself. A return and stair block were added to the rear and also a garage, greenhouse and outbuildings.