Martello Towers

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❖ History and Design

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.

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. 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 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

❖ Martello Towers in South East England

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 either due for reuse of the masonry or due to being unsafe, some were deliberately destroyed in practice. One third still stand to this day, either laying empty or derelict, used as a museum, or converted to a home.

The following is a list of the 74 Martellos along the South East Coast.

Kent

Tower 1 - Folkestone - TR2437


Tower 2 - Folkestone - TR2336
[no image]

Tower 3 - Folkestone TR2436


Tower 4 - Folkestone - TR2135
[no image]

Tower 5 - Coolinge - TR208355
[no image]

Tower 6 - Shorncliffe - TR2035


Tower 7 - Sandgate - TR1935


Tower 8 - Sandgate - TR1935 - Converted to home


Tower 9 - Shorncliffe - TR1935
[no image]

Tower 10 - Hythe - TR1734 - Demolished

Tower 11 - Hythe - TR1634 - Demolished

Tower 12 - Hythe - TR1634 - Demolished

Tower 13 - Hythe - TR1534 - Converted to home


Tower 14 - Hythe - TR1533


Tower 15 - Hythe - TR1433


Tower 16 - Hythe - TR1433
[no image]

Tower 17 - Hythe - TR146334 - Demolished

Tower 18 - Hythe - TR143332 - Demolished

Tower 19 - Hythe - TR139329


Tower 20 - Dymchurch - TR137328 - Demolished

Tower 21 - Dymchurch - TR135326 - Demolished

Tower 22 - Dymchurch - TR116308 - Demolished

Tower 23 - Dymchurch - TR113304 - Converted to home


Tower 24 - Dymchurch - TR102292


Tower 25 - Dymchurch - TR101290


Tower 26 - Dymchurch - TR093275 - Lost to sea

Tower 27 - Dymchurch - TR086270 - Demolished

East Sussex

Tower 28 - Rye Harbour - TQ942188


Tower 29 - Rye Harbour - Lost to sea

Tower 30 - Rye - TQ918199


Tower 31 - Pett Level - TQ918161 - Lost to sea

Tower 32 - Pett Level - TQ913155 - Lost to sea

Tower 33 - Pett Level - TQ909152 - Lost to sea

Tower 34 - Pett Level - Lost to sea

Tower 35 - Pett Level - TQ903146 - Lost to sea

Tower 36 - Pett Level - TQ899142 - Lost to sea

Tower 37 - Pett Level - Destroyed

Tower 38 - Pett Level - Destroyed

Tower 39 - St Leonard's - Destroyed

Tower 40 - St Leonard' - Destroyed

Tower 41 - Bulverhythe - Demolished

Tower 42 - Bulverhythe - Lost to sea

Tower 43 - Bulverhythe - Lost to sea

Tower 44 - Bexhill - Lost to sea

Tower 45 - Bexhill - Demolished

Tower 46 - Bexhill - Demolished

Tower 47 - Bexhill - Washed away to sea

Tower 48 - Bexhill - Demolished

Tower 49 - Bexhill - Destroyed

Tower 50 - Cooden - TQ710065 - Lost to sea (assumed)

Tower 51 - Cooden - Lost to sea

Tower 52 - Cooden - Lost to sea

Tower 53 - Cooden - Lost to sea

Tower 54 - Cooden - TQ687056 - Demolished

Tower 55 - Norman's Bay - TQ682053


Tower 56 - Norman's Bay - Lost to sea

Tower 57 - Pevensey Bay - Lost to sea

Tower 58 - Pevensey Bay- TQ664044 - Demolished

Tower 59 - Pevensey Bay - TQ662043 - Demolished

Tower 60 - Pevensey Bay - TQ658039 - Converted to home


Tower 61 - Pevensey Bay - TQ657038 - Converted to home


Tower 62 - Pevensey Bay - Converted to home, now empty


Tower 63 - Pevensey Bay - TQ649027 - Demolished

Tower 64 - Sovereign Harbour - TQ647022


Tower 65 - Pevensey - TQ645016 - Lost to sea

Tower 66 - Sovereign Harbour - TQ644013


Tower 67 - Eastbourne - TQ644012 - Demolished

Tower 68 - Langney - TQ628016 - Demolished

Tower 69 - Eastbourne - Lost to sea

Tower 70 - Eastbourne - TQ646006 - Lost to sea

Tower 71 - Eastbourne - TQ633004 - Destroyed

Tower 72 - Eastbourne - TQ627001 - Lost to sea

Tower 73 - Eastbourne - TV613982


Tower 74 - Seaford - TV485985

Related buildings

Sandgate castle - TR2035 - Converted to home


Dymchurch Redoubt - TR129322


Eastbourne Redoubt - TV623997

❖ Publicly visit-able

❖ Further reading

Geograph; Martello Tower Category

Martello-Towers.co.uk

Wikipedia

If you can suggest more suitable geograph images, corrections, or relevant text, please send a message.

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