Martello Towers

Posted by Captain Everett on April 21, 1998 at 23:51:38:

In response to Martello towers, written by Sarah P on April 20, 1998 at 09:24:25

Martello Towers were squat, round or ovoid shaped towers, built of brick or stone. There were many variations but they shared certain features. They were designed to be "bombproof" and had walls several feet thick. They had two floors, and an open flat roof (although sometime temporary, or easily dismantled structures were erected on the top). The ground floor had no exterior door, and was used for storage of ammunition and other supplies. The floor above it was used for accomodation, and was the means of entry. The door was reached by means of a ladder, wooden stairs that could easily be knocked down, or a drawbridge. The roof was flat, and was used as a gun platform, and had walls around it about six feet high, with embrassures for the cannon to fire through. The cannons were often mounted on pivoting carriages.

About 200 such structures were built between 1796 and 1850 in the British Isle, Minorca, the Cape Colony, British North American and the U.S. The name was adopted from a tower at Cape Mortello in Corsica which the French successfully defended against the British in 1794. It was originally planned to build 30 of them on Jersey, and 20 had been built by 1794. Fifteen smaller towers (20 ft diameter, walls 6 ft. thick) on Guernsey. Between 1804 and 1812 over a hundred towers were built along the souther coast. As stated, they all followed a basic design, but variations were common.

I've also attached a picture of a Martello Tower, and a Website featuring another. The latter shows substantial alterations to make it more habitable.

I remain, etc.
Jason

• Link: Martello Website

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REPLIES:

• Thank you! Caroline 07:09:07 4/22/98 (1)
  • Picture Credit and "Joyce's" Tower Captain Everett 18:11:06 4/22/98 (0)

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