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Martello tower no 55 is a defensive fortification built during the Napoleonic Wars, part of the extensive chain of coastal towers constructed along the Sussex coast between 1805 and 1812 to guard against potential French invasion. The tower exhibits the characteristic circular or near-circular plan typical of Martello towers, with substantial brick and stone construction designed to withstand artillery bombardment. Located near Normans' Bay in East Sussex, this example represents the standard military engineering of the Napoleonic period, when such towers served as self-contained garrisons capable of mounting a single cannon on their roof platforms. The survival of tower no 55 preserves important evidence of early nineteenth-century coastal defence strategy and construction techniques employed during Britain's most intensive period of fortification against Continental threats.
Martello tower no 55, 500m south west of Normans' Bay Station is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019995. View the official record →
Martello tower no 55 is a defensive fortification built during the Napoleonic Wars, part of the extensive chain of coastal towers constructed along the Sussex coast between 1805 and 1812 to guard against potential French invasion. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1019995.
Martello tower no 55, 500m south west of Normans' Bay Station 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 1019995.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Deserted medieval village of Northeye, 885m south-west of Old Road Farm (1.8 km), Medieval moated site, Cooden (3.4 km), Medieval moated site and associated earthworks, Pound Piece, Manxey (3.4 km).
Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.
Research the area around Martello tower no 55, 500m south west of Normans' Bay Station