England's Historic Seascapes: Southwold to Clacton
Oxford Archaeology (South), 2007. https://doi.org/10.5284/1000277. How to cite using this DOI
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 746
- ALSF Project Number: 4729
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000277
- How to cite using this DOI
England's Historic Seascapes:
Southwold to Clacton
ALSF Project Number 4729
Oxford Archaeology, 2007
Alde Ore and Butley Estuaries
- Alde Ore and Butley Estuaries
- Martello Tower
- Military Orford Ness
- Orford Lighthouse
- Orford Merman
- The Scallop
Martello Tower
A small defensive fort of a type built during the 19th century. They stand up to 40 feet (12m) high (with two floors) and typically had a garrison of one officer and 25 men. Their round structure and thick walls of solid masonry made them very resistant to cannon fire, while their height made them an ideal platform for a single heavy artillery piece, mounted on the flat roof and able to traverse a 360° arc. A few Martello towers were surrounded by a moat for extra defence. They were used throughout the 19th century, but became obsolete with the introduction of powerful rifled artillery. The design was based on that of a tower at Mortella Point, Corsica, which had impressed the British navy when withstanding an assault by two warships in1794. A total of 105 Martello towers were built in England, set at regular intervals along the coast from Seaford, Sussex, to Aldeburgh, Suffolk, but their effectiveness was not tested in combat as the anticipated Napoleonic invasion never occurred. (wikipedia)
