Derry Ormond Tower

The tower was designed by C. R. Cockerell who also designed Derry Ormond House, funded by John Jones of the Derry Ormond estate, and built by local unemployed men between 1821 and 1824. The project was overseen by a local builder named David Morgan. His gravestone in the churchyard of Betws Bledrws church describes him as "the contractor and builder of the Derry Ormond Tower". While originally it was named "St David's Pillar", in the historic Ordnance Survey mapping of 1888 it was referred to by its present name (which refers to the locality of Derry Ormond).

The 127 ft tower, which is based on an upturned cannon, was built on common land near Derry Ormond. The pedestal of the column is built of coursed square rubble stone, 8.3 m high and 4.3 m wide. The column itself is 31.4 m high and has a square plinth and a rounded base 3.8 m in diameter. The column swells in the middle and has a neck ring and a now-eroded band of corbels at its top. Apparently it was surmounted by a viewing platform, but is now covered by slate slabs and consolidated in concrete. The stairway to the top had narrow loops to admit light through the shafts.