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Jaywick Martello Tower facts for kids

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JMT pre-restored 008
Jaywick Martello Tower before it was fixed up.

The Jaywick Martello Tower is a special old tower located in Jaywick, a town in Essex, England. It's about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) south-west of Clacton-on-Sea. This tower has been restored and now serves as a fun place for art, history, and community events.

History of the Tower

Why Martello Towers Were Built

The Jaywick Martello Tower is one of many similar towers built along the coast of England. These towers were constructed a long time ago, between 1804 and 1812. Their main purpose was to protect England from a possible invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte and his armies. Napoleon was a powerful French leader, and England needed strong defenses.

How Many Towers Were Built

In total, 103 Martello towers were built in England during this period.

  • 74 towers were built along the Kent and Sussex coasts from 1804 to 1808.
  • 29 towers were built along the east coast between 1809 and 1812.

The towers on the south coast were given numbers from 1 to 74. The towers on the east coast were given letters from A to Z. There were also three extra towers named AA, BB, and CC. The tower in Jaywick is known as Tower D.

Building the Jaywick Tower

The Jaywick Martello Tower was built using about 750,000 bricks. These bricks were made from London Clay in a place called Grays. They were then brought to Jaywick by boat. The walls of the tower are very thick, about 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) wide. The tower stands about 10 meters (33 feet) tall.

Cannons and Defense

The roof of the tower was designed to hold three cannons. These cannons faced the sea, ready to fire at any approaching enemy ships. Usually, there was one larger cannon in the middle, with two smaller cannons called howitzers on either side. The Jaywick tower still has the special structures where these cannons would have been placed.

Later Life of the Tower

In 1904, the War Office, which was in charge of military buildings, sold the tower. It then became part of a golf course.

Jaywick Martello Tower as an Arts Venue

Jaywick-Martello-Tower
Jaywick Martello Tower after it was renovated in 2005.

Opening as a Gallery

In 2005, the Jaywick Martello Tower was opened to the public as a gallery and arts center. It is now managed by Essex County Council. This means it's a place where people can come to see art and learn about history.

Events and Activities

The tower hosts many different projects and events for the community. These include:

  • Community workshops: Where people can learn new skills or create art together.
  • Living history experiences: Events that bring history to life, often with actors in period costumes.
  • Live music: Concerts and performances for everyone to enjoy.

In 2011, a couple even got married inside the tower!

Protecting Other Towers

In 2019, a meeting was held at the tower. This meeting was important because it discussed how to fix other Martello Towers along the coast. These towers needed serious repairs to keep them standing for future generations.

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