Dymchurch Martello Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dymchurch Martello Tower |
|
|---|---|
Tower 24
|
|
| Location | High Street, Dymchurch |
| OS grid reference | TR10164 29252 |
| Area | Kent |
| Built | 1805 |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Official name: Martello tower no 24 at Dymchurch | |
| Designated | 9 October 1981 |
| Reference no. | 1014626 |
|
Listed Building – Grade II
|
|
| Official name: Martello Tower No 24 | |
| Designated | 23 April 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1061124 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Dymchurch Martello Tower is a cool old building in Dymchurch, Kent, England. It's a special type of fort called a Martello tower. You can find it right behind the sea wall. This tower is so important that English Heritage has given it two special titles: a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building. This means it's protected because of its history.
Contents
Why Were Martello Towers Built?
Imagine a time when England was worried about an invasion! In the early 1800s, Napoleon and his French army were a big threat. To protect the coast, many Martello towers were built. They stretched along the shorelines of Kent and East Sussex.
Dymchurch Martello Tower is number 24 out of 75 such towers. It was placed to guard the gates of marsh sluices. Its partner, Tower 25, is nearby but is now mostly ruined.
A Tower Transformed: From Fort to Museum
Martello Tower 23, a nearby fort, was fixed up in the 1970s. It's now a private home. Tower 24 was then restored, using Tower 23 as a guide.
In 1969, something special happened. Tower 24 became the very first Martello tower to open to the public! Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about these amazing towers. English Heritage owns and cares for it.
What Can You See Inside?
When you visit, you'll see a large 24-pounder cannon. This is a muzzle-loading cannon, which means it was loaded from the front. It sits on the gun platform, ready to defend!
Visiting Dymchurch Martello Tower
A group called the Friends of Martello24 helps look after the tower. They work with English Heritage to open it for visitors.
You can visit the tower every Saturday, Sunday, and bank holiday. It's open from 2 pm to 4 pm, starting from Easter and closing in October. They also arrange special visits if you contact them.
