Doll's House Emporium produced this kit for a competition in 2003. As soon as I saw it reminded me (with a little artistic licence, of course) of an Irish Round Tower. Historically it is thought that these may have been built for a look-out as they were about seventy feet high or as a safe hideaway for monks and local people. The door was usually well above ground level. Mine has only two storeys and is situated near the edge of a loch (a source of fresh fish) with trees for fuel and a spring for fresh water. There is a Celtic cross at the base of the Tower and evidence of fish drying in the sun, hens, and a hive. The windows have no glass to allow smoke from the fire to escape. Grateful villagers would bring him fish in baskets, and meal in pottery containers. The ground floor was where the monk ate, slept and cooked his meals. The open fire provided heat, as well as being used to cook using a crane with a pot hanging from it. The monk would have slept near to the fire for warmth on his straw palliase and wrapped in a woollen blanket. He has two cats that keep him company and hunt for mice and rats. The upper room is reached by a ladder and is used for the monk's main task of copying illuminated manuscripts. At one stage Ireland was famous for its export of illuminated books. Outside the top window which provides north light for the monk to work by, is a bell which would have been used to call the faithful to prayer and to act as a warning in times of trouble. Here the monk would pray and work, mixing his own coloured pigments with egg white.