Another Martello Ticked Off

On a bitterly cold December day in 2011, I ventured East to Felixstowe's Landguard Common and its namesake Palmerston era Landguard Fort. Nearby is Martello Tower 'P', one of the four remaining Martellos that guarded the once important anchorage and harbour of Harwich.

It is an interesting, tightly bounded area, hemmed in by the sea on three sides, the modern port of Felixstowe on the fourth, and capped by an oddly located caravan site. Part of the common is a seasonal nature reserve, but it mostly owes its existence in its current form to the presence of the defensive works sited there for almost 400 years.

The main section of Landguard Fort consists of casemates for 7 guns facing into the estuary, backed by brick and earth walls, magazines and covered accommodation, and surrounded by ditches with caponiers. Many of the latter have either simply been filled in, or have been built over by the large Edwardian battery which faces out sea. In addition to the 1900 extension, WWII added anti-invasion defenses and a range of protected harbour control installations.

What we found at Rye, Sussex

Neglected, abandoned, controversial in its day and uncared for now, outside Rye the half a million bricks of Tower Nr. 28 stand guard against an enemy who never came.  That the enemy stayed away was because this was then the 'last word' in deterrence.  For in about 1810 when it was erected, a Martello Tower was a defense so powerful that no enemy ever sailed within range of its roof mounted artillery. Such was the power of the Martello.

Today, only the town yoof and the occasional antiquarian ventures inside to disturb the resident doves and pigeons.  Thoughtfully though, should you be inclined so to follow them, someone has left a makeshift ladder below the single entrance, just for the benefit of those who might come after.  Inside the floors are long gone, but the massive brick central column remains, and the roof above stands solid against the weather.

I think this piece of Britain's Napoleonic defences needs a little sympathetic restoration.