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Martello Towers :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

Description

Martello Towers, or 'Martellos', were small defensive forts first built in the South East of England during the Napoleonic War between 1805 and 1808. They were built throughout the British Empire, in 5 different continents, during the first half of the 19th Century. 103 in total were built around Britain, after the South East, a large number can be found in Essex, Suffolk and in Ireland.

Martello towers were inspired by a round fortress at Mortella Point in Corsica (completed 1565). In 1794 two British warships for two days unsuccessfully attacked the tower at Mortella Point. This impressed the British who copied the design for the British Martello Towers.

The round structures followed a standard plan, though varied in size. A typical South East Martello would be about 45 ft* (13.7m) in diameter at base and up to 40ft* (12m) tall. The masonry walls were built of brick and rendered with lime mortar externally, and were up to 13ft thick. Inside there were two main floors, the lower floor housing supplies and a powder store, and the first floor the men's quarters and officer's quarters. A single Martello housed between 15 and 25 men; a garrison of up to 24 men and 1 officer. The internal floor area of both floors was 1300 sq ft.

Section through a Martello Tower image © Oast House Archive

The entrance to the tower was between 10 and 20 feet (3.0 to 6.1m) above ground level to stop easy access by the enemy. Steps and walkways seen today will have been added for modern use.

On the flat parapet roof was mounted a cannon. The round shape of the building allowed it to rotate 360°, able to defend all directions.

Some Martellos had a rain water collection system using the roof and top of the parapet walls to collect water for drinking, with drains leading to a water tank below the ground floor. Fire places and chimneys were also built into the walls.

A number were moated for extra defence.

- *verification required

Conversion

A large proportion of Martellos have been converted to dwellings, many of those with an additional roof added on top. A small number have been opened as museums.

Location

England - South East Coast

140 Martellos were built around Britain, over half of which can be found in the South East of England, where there are 74 lining the Kent and East Sussex coast between Seaford and Folkestone. None were ever used in combat during the Napoleonic War. Many have now been lost to the sea, or demolished due to being unsafe or to reuse the masonry, some were deliberately destroyed in training practice. One third still stand to this day, either laying empty or derelict, used as a museum, or converted to a home.

The 74 Martellos of the South East Coast.

Photograph	Tower Number	Region	Town	Grid Reference	Notes
	Tower 1	Kent	Folkestone	TR24093731	Grade II listed
	Tower 2	Kent	Folkestone	TR23973698	Converted to dwelling and holiday let. Grade II listed
	Tower 3	Kent	Folkestone	TR24063663
	Tower 4	Kent	Folkestone	TR21133536
	Tower 5	Kent	Coolinge	TR20773554	in the grounds of the Folkestone School for Girls
	Tower 6	Kent	Shorncliffe	TR20223537	Grade II listed
	Tower 7	Kent	Sandgate	TR19863530
	Tower 8	Kent	Sandgate	TR19413523	Converted to home
	Tower 9	Kent	Shorncliffe	TR19023515
	Tower 10	Kent	Hythe	TR1734	Demolished
	Tower 11	Kent	Hythe	TR1634	Demolished
	Tower 12	Kent	Hythe	TR1634	Demolished
	Tower 13	Kent	Hythe	TR15873399	Converted to home
	Tower 14	Kent	Hythe	TR15493383
	Tower 15	Kent	Hythe	TR15213369
	Tower 16	Kent	Hythe	TR149335	Lost to sea
	Tower 17	Kent	Hythe	TR146334	Demolished
	Tower 18	Kent	Hythe	TR143332	Demolished
	Tower 19	Kent	Hythe	TR13913291
	Tower 20	Kent	Dymchurch	TR137328	Demolished
	Tower 21	Kent	Dymchurch	TR135326	Demolished
	Tower 22	Kent	Dymchurch	TR116308	Demolished
	Tower 23	Kent	Dymchurch	TR113304	Converted to home
	Tower 24	Kent	Dymchurch	TR102292
	Tower 25	Kent	Dymchurch	TR101290
	Tower 26	Kent	Dymchurch	TR093275	Lost to sea
	Tower 27	Kent	Dymchurch	TR086270	Demolished
	Tower 28	East Sussex	Rye Harbour	TQ942188
	Tower 29	East Sussex	Rye Harbour		Lost to sea
	Tower 30	East Sussex	Rye	TQ918199
	Tower 31	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ918161	Lost to sea
	Tower 32	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ913155	Lost to sea
	Tower 33	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ909152	Lost to sea
	Tower 34	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ9014	Lost to sea
	Tower 35	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ903146	Lost to sea
	Tower 36	East Sussex	Pett Level	TQ899142	Lost to sea
	Tower 37	East Sussex	Pett Level		Destroyed
	Tower 38	East Sussex	Pett Level		Destroyed
	Tower 39	East Sussex	St Leonard's		Destroyed
	Tower 40	East Sussex	St Leonard's		Destroyed
	Tower 41	East Sussex	Bulverhythe		Demolished
	Tower 42	East Sussex	Bulverhythe		Lost to sea
	Tower 43	East Sussex	Bulverhythe		Lost to sea
	Tower 44	East Sussex	Bexhill		Lost to sea
	Tower 45	East Sussex	Bexhill		Demolished
	Tower 46	East Sussex	Bexhill		Demolished
	Tower 47	East Sussex	Bexhill		Washed away to sea
	Tower 48	East Sussex	Bexhill		Demolished
	Tower 49	East Sussex	Bexhill		Destroyed
	Tower 50	East Sussex	Cooden	TQ710065	Lost to sea (assumed)
	Tower 51	East Sussex	Cooden		Lost to sea
	Tower 52	East Sussex	Cooden		Lost to sea
	Tower 53	East Sussex	Cooden		Lost to sea
	Tower 54	East Sussex	Cooden	TQ687056	Demolished
	Tower 55	East Sussex	Norman's Bay	TQ682053
	Tower 56	East Sussex	Norman's Bay		Lost to sea
	Tower 57	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay		Lost to sea
	Tower 58	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ664044	Demolished
	Tower 59	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ662043	Demolished
	Tower 60	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ658039	Converted to home
	Tower 61	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ657038	Converted to home
	Tower 62	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ651031	Converted to home, now empty
	Tower 63	East Sussex	Pevensey Bay	TQ649027	Demolished
	Tower 64	East Sussex	Sovereign Harbour	TQ647022
	Tower 65	East Sussex	Pevensey	TQ645016	Lost to sea
	Tower 66	East Sussex	Sovereign Harbour	TQ644013
	Tower 67	East Sussex	Eastbourne	TQ644012	Fate unknown
	Tower 68	East Sussex	Langney	TQ628016	Demolished
	Tower 69	East Sussex	Eastbourne		Fate unknown
	Tower 70	East Sussex	Eastbourne	TQ646006	Fate unknown
	Tower 71	East Sussex	Eastbourne	TQ633004	Fate unknown
	Tower 72	East Sussex	Eastbourne	TQ627001	Fate unknown
	Tower 73	East Sussex	Eastbourne	TV613982
	Tower 74	East Sussex	Seaford	TV485985

Related buildings

Photograph	Region	Buildings	Grid Reference	Notes
	Kent	Sandgate castle	TR206351	Converted to home
	Kent	Dymchurch Redoubt	TR129322
	East Sussex	Eastbourne Redoubt	TV623997
	Hove	Deep Sea Anglers Club	TQ268045	Martello inspired, built in 1990. Martello Towers were not built as far West as Hove.
	Isle of Grain	Number 1, The Thames	TQ898760	Military battery built 1855, similar in construction to Martellos

England - East Coast

29 were built between Aldeburgh and St Osyth Stone between 1808 and 1812 to protect Essex and Suffolk. A supporting fort, or Redoubt, was built at Harwich.

Photograph	Tower Number	Region	Town	Grid Reference	Notes
	Tower A	Essex	St Osyth	TM083156	Grade II listed Museum
	Tower B	Essex	St Osyth		Converted to home then demolished 1967
	Tower C	Essex	Jaywick	TM136127	Grade II listed
	Tower D	Essex	Clacton	TM161133	Grade II listed (Tower 3)
	Tower E	Essex	Clacton	TM167137	Grade II listed (Tower 2)
	Tower F	Essex	Clacton	TM172142	Converted to restaurant (Tower 8). Grade II listed
	Tower G	Essex	Holland Marshes		Demolished 1819
	Tower H	Essex	Holland Marshes		Demolished 1819
	Tower I	Essex	Holland Marshes		Demolished 1819
	Tower J	Essex	Walton Cliffs		Demolished
	Tower K	Essex	Walton	TM251220	Grade II listed
	Tower L	Suffolk	Shotley	TM248336	Grade II listed
	Tower M	Suffolk	Shotley	TM251341	Grade II listed
awaiting image	Tower N	Suffolk	Walton Ferry, 'The Dooley Fort'	TM2833	Now under the dock
	Tower O	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM282312	Lost to sea 1800s
	Tower P	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM292330	Converted to coastguard Lookout, now unused. Originally moated
	Tower Q	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM299342	Converted to home (Tower 14). Grade II listed
awaiting image	Tower R	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM310347	Part of foundations of the Bartlett Hospital. Grade II* listed
	Tower S	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM3134	Lost to sea 1830s
	Tower T	Suffolk	Felixstowe	TM326366	Golf Club store. Grade II listed
	Tower U	Suffolk	Felixstowe Ferry	TM328373	Converted to home. Grade II listed
	Tower V	Suffolk	Bawdsey		Destroyed 1819, remains in garden
	Tower W	Suffolk	Bawdsey	TM355397	Converted to home Grade II listed
	Tower X	Suffolk	Bawdsey	TM357400	Demolished late 1800's
	Tower Y	Suffolk	Bawdsey	TM358410	Converted to home Grade II listed
	Tower Z	Suffolk	Alderton	TM361419	Grade II listed
	Tower AA	Suffolk	Shingle Street	TM365425	Converted to home. Grade II listed
	Tower BB	Suffolk	River Ore	TM3743	Demolished 1822
	Tower CC	Suffolk	Slaughden, Aldeburgh	TM462549	The largest Martello tower built. Constructed in a unique clover leaf form; effectively four towers joined together. Grade II* listed

Related buildings

Photograph	Region	Buildings	Grid Reference	Notes
	Essex	Harwich Redoubt	TM26153215	Grade II* listed

Scotland

Three Martellos were built in Scotland.

Photograph	Town	Grid Reference	Notes
	Leith	NT26887775	Built about 1807-1809. Now Laying empty on the breakwater surrounded by a port and industrial area.
	Hackness	ND33839127	Museum. Two were built at Hackness between 1813 and 1815
	Crackness	ND32439344

Ireland

Section still being developed.

About 50 Martellos were built in Ireland.

Some of those that appear on Geograph

Photograph	Tower Name	Town	Grid Reference	Notes
awaiting image		Achill Island
		Baginbun	S8003
		Belvelly Townland	W7970
awaiting image		Banagher
awaiting image		Bray
awaiting image		Bulloch Harbour
		Co Donegal	B707085
			C660388
awaiting image		Dalkey Island
		Drogheda	O09027479
		Finavarra Point	M24021164
awaiting image		Fota Island, Cork Harbour
awaiting image		Howth
awaiting image		Ilnacullin
		Ireland's Eye	O281414
	Hick's Tower	Malahide	O238458
		Howth	O2840
awaiting image		Lambay Island
		Loughshinny	O275563
		Monkstown	O228291
		Portmarnock	O248445
awaiting image		Rathmullan
	James Joyce's Martello tower	Sandycove	O258281
		Skerries	O257610
		Tonacrick	L958238
		Sandymount Strand	O19523203
awaiting image		Seapoint
awaiting image		Shenick Island
awaiting image		Sutton
awaiting image		Williamstown