Engineers, soldiers, smugglers and a writer
Who planned, built, manned and later lived in Martello towers.
Planners and builders
In July 1803 Captain William Ford, the Commanding Royal Engineer at Dover, proposed square towers along the south coast. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
Major General William Twiss, the military engineer for the whole Southern District, was in general charge of the work. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
The building work went to a London builder, William Hobson. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower Hobson subcontracted some of the work to John “Yorky” Smith and Edward Hodges. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
Small differences between towers came from local subcontractors building them. Historic England: Martello tower no 24 at Dymchurch (list entry 1014626)
The garrison
Each tower was meant for a garrison of 25: one officer and 24 other ranks. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower Historic England says tower 24 housed a garrison of 24 men and one officer. Historic England: Martello tower no 24 at Dymchurch (list entry 1014626)
Most towers were probably manned by militia, who were raised by ballot, trained in peacetime and called up in wartime, or by volunteers. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
The Fife Militia, from Scotland, were at Dymchurch in 1806 to 1807. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
The first floor was split into three around the central pillar: one room for the officer, one for 15 to 24 men, and the rest for stores. Historic England, Heritage Calling blog: A Brief Introduction to Martello Towers
The cramped rooms were probably only fully used in emergencies; normally smaller groups probably took turns on watch, and those off duty may have stayed in local inns. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
The men carried smoothbore flintlock muskets. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
Hackness had a barracks for 14 men and a cubicle for the NCO on the first floor. Historic Environment Scotland: Hackness Battery and Martello Tower, history and stories By 1883 just two artillerymen were on duty. Historic Environment Scotland: Hackness Battery and Martello Tower, history and stories
Smugglers and coastguards
After the threat passed, some towers were pulled down for their materials, and some became coastguard stations watching for smugglers. Historic England, Heritage Calling blog: A Brief Introduction to Martello Towers
From 1819, or earlier, until 1832, tower 24 was a station for the Coast Blockade, a naval force set up in 1816 to fight smuggling. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
The Aldington Gang of smugglers worked from around Romney Marsh until its members were brought to justice in 1826. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
In 1832 the Coastguard took over, and tower 24 became a Coastguard station. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
Watchers in the wars
Some were used again in the 20th century, as wireless stations and observation posts in the World Wars and the Cold War. Historic England, Heritage Calling blog: A Brief Introduction to Martello Towers
On 13 June 1944, Royal Observer Corps observers on top of the tower reported the first V1 flying bomb to enter the UK. English Heritage: History of Dymchurch Martello Tower
In the First World War, Carleton held deserters from the 69th Canadian Infantry Battalion. Parks Canada: The 20th Century, Carleton Martello Tower In the Second World War a two-storey concrete command post was built on its top, used from 1941 to 1944. Parks Canada: The 20th Century, Carleton Martello Tower
It was sold in 1932 and turned into a house, taken over in 1940 as a military watch tower, and restored in 1973. Historic England: Martello Tower, Aldeburgh (list entry 1269724)
A writer’s tower
In 1904 the tower was let to Oliver St John Gogarty, whose most famous guest was James Joyce. James Joyce Tower: The Martello Tower Dublin UNESCO City of Literature says Joyce stayed only briefly in the tower. Dublin UNESCO City of Literature: Sandycove Martello Tower
The Sandycove tower is the setting for the opening of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and now a museum to Joyce. James Joyce Tower: The Martello Tower
On 16 June 1962 the tower was opened as a museum by Sylvia Beach, who published Ulysses. James Joyce Tower: The Martello Tower
Holidays in a tower
In 1971 the Landmark Trust took it on, repaired it and turned it into holiday accommodation. The Landmark Trust: Martello Tower, Aldeburgh
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