Title:

Martello Tower No.28 Rye Harbour

Price:

£20.00

Overview

Martello Tower No. 28, known as the "Enchantress Tower," is a historic circular fort located at Rye Harbour, East Sussex. It was built between 1805 and 1808 as part of Britain's extensive coastal defenses against Napoleon's feared invasion fleet. Positioned at the mouth of the River Rother, the tower was designed with massive, bomb-proof brick walls and a flat roof mounting a single, powerful 24-pounder cannon capable of a 360-degree rotation. It could house a small garrison of up to 25 men and was strategically vital for protecting the harbour entrance and the nearby Royal Military Canal sluices. The tower never saw combat against French forces, as the expected invasion never occurred. After the Napoleonic threat passed, it was repurposed from 1834 to 1861 as a coastguard station to combat smuggling, earning its enduring nickname from the coastguards' former vessel, the Enchantress. It briefly returned to military service during the Second World War as an observation post and machine-gun position. Today, natural coastal shifts have left the tower nearly a kilometre inland from the current shoreline. It is a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument, but is currently in a state of disrepair and closed to the public. Proposals have been put forward to convert the historic structure into a unique private residence, which would facilitate its much-needed structural preservation.

Tags:

Buildings, Fort, Defensive Structure, historical, 1800's, Military

Creator (Verified):

@Merlin-Capture