Grain Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grain Tower |
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| Grain, Kent, England | |
Grain Tower at low tide
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 Grain Tower
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| Coordinates | 51°27′06″N 0°43′53″E / 51.45168°N 0.73125°E |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private owners |
| Condition | Poor condition, derelict and decaying |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1848–55 |
| Built by | United Kingdom |
| In use | 1857–1956 |
| Materials | Concrete, granite, brick |
Grain Tower is an old gun tower from the mid-1800s. It stands in the water near Grain, Kent, at the mouth of the River Medway. This tower was built like the Martello towers, which were common along the British and Irish coasts. It's actually the very last gun tower of its kind ever built.
The tower was created to protect important naval bases at Sheerness and Chatham. Back in the 1850s, people worried that France might attack by sea. However, new gun technology quickly made the tower less useful. Even so, it was used in both the First and Second World War. During these wars, parts of the tower were changed to hold new, faster guns. Grain Tower was stopped from being used in 1956 and is now empty and falling apart. It has been owned by private people since 2005.
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Why Was Grain Tower Built?
When Grain Tower was being built, many people in Britain were worried. They feared that France might invade or send ships up the River Thames. The Thames was a very important trade route for Britain. It also had vital naval places like the Woolwich Arsenal where weapons were made.
The River Medway also had big naval bases, especially Chatham Dockyard. This dockyard had been attacked by the Dutch in 1667. So, it was super important to stop any enemy from getting into the Medway and reaching the dockyard.
Grain Tower is located about 500 meters (1,640 feet) offshore. It sits at the eastern tip of the Isle of Grain. This is where the Medway River meets the River Thames. The tower was built on a sandbank called Grain Spit. You can reach it by a path that runs from the shore. Its location allowed its guns to cover the same area as guns at Garrison Point. Garrison Point is on the Isle of Sheppey, across the Medway.
Building the Tower
Building started in 1848, but they had trouble with the foundations. Work stopped until 1853. It took almost two years for the builders to finish the rest of the tower. A newspaper noted that the tower's exposed location made it very hard to work there in winter.
Grain Tower was finished in late 1855. It cost more than expected, about £16,798. This was over 50 percent more than the original budget.
The tower has three floors and is covered in granite stones. It is shaped like an oval. Its base is about 21.8 by 19.3 meters (71.5 by 63.3 feet). The tower was originally 12.9 meters (42.3 feet) tall. Its walls are very thick, about 3.6 meters (11.8 feet). Soldiers who operated the guns lived inside the tower. It also held supplies and ammunition. Its design is very similar to the Martello towers. These were built during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800s. Grain Tower is considered the last Martello tower built in Britain.
How Grain Tower Was Used
At first, Grain Tower had three large guns on its roof. These guns fired en barbette, meaning they fired over the top of the wall. However, new and much more powerful guns were invented. This meant Grain Tower was already old-fashioned as soon as it was finished.
The tower's weakness to these new guns was never fully fixed. In the late 1850s, there was another scare about a possible invasion. The British government then decided to build or upgrade many forts. This was to protect important places along the coast. About 70 new forts and batteries were built.
It was suggested that Grain Tower should be made into a stronger, enclosed fort. But this idea was too expensive. Instead, a new Grain Fort was built on land. The fort at Garrison Point was also rebuilt.
The tower's old guns were later replaced with newer ones. These were removed in 1910, and the tower became a communications tower. In 1915, two faster-firing guns were moved to Grain Tower. These guns were meant to fight against new, speedy torpedo boats. To do this, a raised concrete structure was built on the tower's roof. A shelter was also made for soldiers, supplies, and fire control. The inside of the tower was also changed to store more ammunition.
The guns stayed there during the First World War. Grain Tower also became one end of a large chain barrier. This barrier stretched across the Medway to Sheerness. A huge iron chain from this barrier is still wrapped around the base of the tower today. The tower's guns were removed in 1929.
During the Second World War, even bigger changes happened. In 1939, a powerful twin gun was placed on the tower. A large concrete structure with a roof was built on top to hold this gun. A tall directing tower was also added behind it. A special light for defense was also put on the tower. At the back of the tower, a brick and concrete building was built on stilts. This was for the soldiers who operated the gun. It's a separate building but connected to the tower by walkways. In 1944, the tower was put on standby. It was finally stopped from being used in 1956.
What Is Grain Tower Like Today?
Grain Tower is still standing, but it's in poor condition and decaying. It's listed as "at risk." In 1986, English Heritage made the tower a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building. It's also part of a larger scheduled monument that protects coastal defenses on the Isle of Grain.
You can't go inside the tower officially. However, some people like anglers (fishermen) and urban explorers sometimes visit it.
In 2005, a private owner bought the tower. They tried to sell it again in 2010 for £500,000. The owner said it didn't work out well as a home. It was reportedly sold in 2014 for £400,000. The new owner wanted to keep their identity a secret until they got permission to renovate it.
