The coast at Hick's tower

Lilypon, on October 10, 2007, said:

Oh Gerry it's beautiful (and I'd love to be able to transport meself to that beach)!!!

Ryan Calhoun, on October 10, 2007, said:

That's very pretty, this beach with rocks. A soft part to walk on, and a rugged part with more texture as well. That's a wonderful round building there, with dormers and towers poking out just wherever they want to! Cheers, Ryan

♫ Swissmay, on October 12, 2007, said:

…to think, that I had a few hours to spend on my last day and night in Malahide and that I have driven around to find the B&B, I regret that I didn't go down to the beach. Where was I? In Swords to have a meal! … Nice photo, Gerry!

Greetings, May

© Gerry, on January 18, 2008, said:

Hick’s Tower (source of following text here)

In a short time we come to Hick’s Tower, which is a converted Martello Tower. One of 74 such towers built in Ireland between 1804 and 1815, Malahide’s tower was built in 1805 by the British Government in fear of a Napoleonic landing in Ireland. The French called these towers bulldogs and it has been said that they were built to puzzle posterity and resemble a child’s sandcastle, left high and dry. On hearing of the proposed Napoleonic invasion a Malahide wit is said to have commented:- “it could not be told where the French would land, but likely it would be by the sea”. The walls of Hick’s Tower are 6ft. thick and 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 the soldiers while the top floor, with a parapet, held a 24 pounder cannon. The tower was built to be bomb-proof and the original entrance was 10 feet from the ground. The swivel gun on the parapet had a range of approximately one mile. No nails, only wooden pegs were used in it’s construction, in case a spark from a soldier’s boot would blow the tower asunder. The mortar, holding the granite blocks together, is exceptionally strong, as it is comprised of lime, ash, hot wax and ox-blood. Architect, Frederick Hicks took over the tower in 1910 and, with colossal labour, cut windows in the wall and added a roof. To-day, at the apex of the tower stands a witch on a broom. This, unfortunately, has replaced a beautiful bronze sailing galleon which once adorned the roof. Hick’s Tower never fired a shot, but to-day we can view it as Malahide’s Napoleonic heritage.

Sue Hind, on October 24, 2008, said:

Fred Hicks, who converted the Martello Tower at Malahide, was my great uncle by marriage, his wife Edith was my great aunt. When I was a child I stayed at Hicks Tower and have a snapshot of Fred, Edith, myself and others taken on the steps outside the front door of the Tower. Also one of myself playing in the sand on the beach. This was many years ago as I am now 90 years of age. The information on Martello Towers is very interesting to me. Suzanne Hind.

© Gerry, on October 25, 2008, said:

Wow! I would love to see those shots Sue! I hope Fred removed all the gunpowder before your visit! This tower is tastefully revamped (unlike others in the area). The National Library of Ireland has some old photos online of Malahide including Hick's Tower. Click here to access the archive.. Enter MALAHIDE in the 'subject alpabetical' box.

Thurble, on March 8, 2009, said:

I knew Fred 'Pop' Hicks, architect, in the 1960s, years after he converted this tower. He lived with my wonderful great-aunt (Gladys Green) in Bristol when I was a young lad and he was in his nineties, though still spry and engaging. I learned of his links with Dublin and Malahide only when digging through my late mother's papers - there was mention of the Tower in his newspaper epitaph, a sketch and a few photos of Pop in his dotage. Hence my arrival here! Thanks for this fine photo, too. I hope to see the tower up close some day. Keith Harvey.

© Gerry, on March 9, 2009, said:

Thanks Keith. It's easy to get to. About 6 miles from the airport by taxi or take the 102 bus from the airport - stop right beside it.