Comments on: The Martello Towers of the Kent and Sussex Coast

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:54:17 +0000

Mike on 16th June 2010 posted the correct locations for the Martello’s in Pevensey Bay. He is correct as to the numbering too. So the map here still leaves out tower 61 which is located in Millward Road, running between Timberlaine Road and Grenville Road. This tower was used by the Canadian Army in WWII and still has its additional two floors dating from 1940, it is now a private and well maintained residence.

For the record the myth about an adjacent Tower being destroyed by German fire in WWII is just that, a myth! A combination of 19th century post Napoleonic Bitish navy target practise and costal errosion is what ended its life!

By: John Vaughan

John Vaughan — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:20:57 +0000

There are some interesting facts / plans / document transcriptions regarding the Sussex towers on the Sussex History Forum (only just started) and the Kent ones on, oddly enough, Kent History Forum (long established!)

http://www.sussexhistoryforum.co.uk

http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk

By: John Owens

John Owens — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:07:27 +0000

AJ Glock, who converted Martello Tower 13, was my grandfather. I note that he did this in 1928, 8 years before his sudden death. I never knew him as I was born in 1946. My mother, Arthur Glock’s only remaining child, tells me that the conversion was such an unusual event that it was reported in the national papers.

By: don mc guinness

don mc guinness — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 23:36:11 +0000

HI, I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE HAS FOUND WORKING DRAWINGS OF MARTELLO TOWERS built around 1804.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:02:59 +0000

“No 39 was located where today is the promenade at the junction of Sea Road and Grosvenor Gardens, St Leonards”
“Martello Towers 39 (opposite the Bopeep pub)”
http://www.hastingschronicle.net/cgsChronicle.html

Still might not help, but the Hastings Chronicle article does have a lot of detailed info which might help rule in or rule out the tower and it’s a good read anyhow

By: Lance Vinter

Lance Vinter — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:27:02 +0000

Thank-you Admin, although very interesting and does help slightly it still doesn’t tell me the name of the fort or whether or not it is a Martello Tower or a fort or both………lol Anyway thanks again for your help, will probably have to search in a different direction unless someone else has any info. Many thanks again………….

By: admin

admin — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:31:48 +0000

@Lance: Does this page help at all?
http://www.rootschat.com/history/hastings/content/view/73/26/

By: Lance Vinter

Lance Vinter — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:15:08 +0000

Hi, i am looking for information on the coastguards that were stationed in St. Leonards in Kent in 1841. I have a possible relation living and working as a farm servant there. The Place indicated is called “Fort (and what looks like) Floys” but it is unclear. It seemed to be adjoining Swan Lane, the head of the household was an Horatio Wilkinson (Royal Navy), there was a clerk and his family living there with two servants. The next three properties have Coastguards living there with their families. If it is any help i could send you a copy of the census page. I am trying to find out if this fort is Martello Tower 39 or am i barking up the wrong tree. I can be contacted via e-mail, Many Thanks………………

By: admin

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:33:31 +0000

Hi Mike, I’ll check my notes if I can find them!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:58:03 +0000

Your website is great. Thanks for making this worthwhile effort. Are your towers in the Pevensey Bay area numbered correctly? There is a tower between Grenville Road and Timberlaine Road that is not marked on your map. Should that be Tower 61? Should the tower near Leyland Road be Tower 60? Also, do you know why/how Tower 63 was “destroyed by the Germans in WWII?”