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Martello tower at Shingle Street is a circular defensive fortification constructed during the Napoleonic Wars, likely built between 1808 and 1812 as part of the extensive coastal defence system established against the threat of French invasion. The tower is built of brick and exhibits the characteristic squat, heavily-fortified design typical of Martello towers, with thick walls designed to withstand artillery bombardment and a gun platform on the roof. Located on the Suffolk coast near Aldeburgh, the tower represents the military architecture of the early nineteenth century and remains one of the surviving examples of the chain of over one hundred Martello towers erected along the English coastline during this period. The structure stands as evidence of Britain's defensive preparations during the prolonged conflict with Napoleonic France.
Martello tower at Shingle Street is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1006034. View the official record →
Martello tower at Shingle Street is a circular defensive fortification constructed during the Napoleonic Wars, likely built between 1808 and 1812 as part of the extensive coastal defence system established against the threat of French invasion. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1006034.
Martello tower at Shingle Street is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1006034.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Martello tower SE of Buckanay Farm (0.8 km), Settlement site E of the Cedars (1.6 km), Martello tower by Bawdsey Beach (1.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Martello tower at Shingle Street's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Martello tower at Shingle Street stands on Thames Group, bedrock that formed in the Eocene. The rock here is clay, silt, sand and gravel.