Scottish Brochs and Irish Round Towers page 2

There are two distinctive Round Towers on the mainland of Scotland, the one at Abernethy in Perthshire, and the other at Brechin in Forfarshire. Like the Irish towers, the two late styles of which they closely resemble, both were from the outset isolated buildings associated with religious establishments. Abernethy's church was dedicated to St. Bridget, the founder of the monastery of Kildare. Skene has, on historical grounds, placed the date of the Abernethy tower "towards the middle of the ninth century." According to Dr. Joseph Anderson, the Brechin tower was erected in the first half of the tenth century. Egilsay church in. Orkney is unique in having a Round Tower as part of the gable.