Pirates need holidays too!
Now a holiday cottage, this fortification was built during the Napoleonic wars and is grade II* listed, it sits between the shingle beach and the River Alde on a narrow stretch of land at Slaughdon near to Aldeburgh in Suffolk, on the North Sea coast.
This was the largest and most Northerly such Martello tower to be built to defend the East coast, and according to various sources was commenced in either 1806 or 1808, with completion in 1810.
The walls are approximately seven feet thick and built of brick, the base being granite.
These structures were manned by a small troop of men and were essentially a defensive gun platform (this apparently held four such guns).
It was sold following the war and converted into a domestic dwelling but was later commandeered by the military in 1940 to act as a watch tower. It was later aquired by a private buyer and restored in 1973.
This Martello was also unique being the only such tower to be built to a quatrefoil (clover leaf) plan.
This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, listed as no. 106.
The pirates (I only make such observation because of the flag) have even got their own plank "to walk".
Pirates need holidays too!
Now a holiday cottage, this fortification was built during the Napoleonic wars and is grade II* listed, it sits between the shingle beach and the River Alde on a narrow stretch of land at Slaughdon near to Aldeburgh in Suffolk, on the North Sea coast.
This was the largest and most Northerly such Martello tower to be built to defend the East coast, and according to various sources was commenced in either 1806 or 1808, with completion in 1810.
The walls are approximately seven feet thick and built of brick, the base being granite.
These structures were manned by a small troop of men and were essentially a defensive gun platform (this apparently held four such guns).
It was sold following the war and converted into a domestic dwelling but was later commandeered by the military in 1940 to act as a watch tower. It was later aquired by a private buyer and restored in 1973.
This Martello was also unique being the only such tower to be built to a quatrefoil (clover leaf) plan.
This is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, listed as no. 106.
The pirates (I only make such observation because of the flag) have even got their own plank "to walk".