![📌 1810-1812 Martello Tower AA, Shingle Street, Bawdsey [TM-3655 4255] | by Defend & Attack](http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48854851927_02edc5b27b.jpg)
📌 1810-1812 Martello Tower AA, Shingle Street, Bawdsey [TM-3655 4255]
Martello Tower AA became a private dwelling in 1981, it was pebble dashed, an external wooden staircase added and a small circular sun room was constructed on top, the interior also had a conversion but managed to keep the original features where possible.
Martello Towers are about 40ft in height with walls about 8ft thick, in some Towers the rooms were not built in the centre, but more to the landside, leaving the walls thicker on seaward side, these were vulnerable to attack from Cannon fire, attack on the landside was thought very unlikely. Entry was by ladder to a door about 10ft from the base above which was a 'Machicolated Platform' (slotted) which allowed for downward fire on Attackers. The flat roof or terreplein had a high parapet and a raised platform in the centre with a pivot (sometimes a converted Cannon) for a Cannon that would traverse a 360° arc. (Some towers were designed to carry more than one Cannon, with each having a more limited arc of fire) the walls had narrow slits for Defensive Musket fire.
The interior of a classic British Martello Tower consisted of two storeys (sometimes with an additional basement) The ground floor served as the Magazine and Storerooms, where Ammunition, water, stores and provisions were kept. The Garrison of 24 Men and one Officer lived in the Casemate on the first floor, which was divided into several rooms and had fireplaces built into the walls for cooking and heating. The Officer and Men lived in separate rooms of almost equal size. A well or cistern within the fort supplied the Garrison with water, an internal drainage system linked to the roof enabled rainwater to refill the cistern.
📌 1810-1812 Martello Tower AA, Shingle Street, Bawdsey [TM-3655 4255]
Martello Tower AA became a private dwelling in 1981, it was pebble dashed, an external wooden staircase added and a small circular sun room was constructed on top, the interior also had a conversion but managed to keep the original features where possible.
Martello Towers are about 40ft in height with walls about 8ft thick, in some Towers the rooms were not built in the centre, but more to the landside, leaving the walls thicker on seaward side, these were vulnerable to attack from Cannon fire, attack on the landside was thought very unlikely. Entry was by ladder to a door about 10ft from the base above which was a 'Machicolated Platform' (slotted) which allowed for downward fire on Attackers. The flat roof or terreplein had a high parapet and a raised platform in the centre with a pivot (sometimes a converted Cannon) for a Cannon that would traverse a 360° arc. (Some towers were designed to carry more than one Cannon, with each having a more limited arc of fire) the walls had narrow slits for Defensive Musket fire.
The interior of a classic British Martello Tower consisted of two storeys (sometimes with an additional basement) The ground floor served as the Magazine and Storerooms, where Ammunition, water, stores and provisions were kept. The Garrison of 24 Men and one Officer lived in the Casemate on the first floor, which was divided into several rooms and had fireplaces built into the walls for cooking and heating. The Officer and Men lived in separate rooms of almost equal size. A well or cistern within the fort supplied the Garrison with water, an internal drainage system linked to the roof enabled rainwater to refill the cistern.