Tally Toor facts for kids
The Tally Toor is a special old building in Leith, which is part of Edinburgh, Scotland. It's one of only three martello towers in Scotland! The other two are far away in Orkney, at Hackness and Crockness.
When it was first built, the Tally Toor stood out in the water on some rocks called the Mussel Cape Rocks. But over time, new land was made around it, a process called land reclamation. Now, the tower is on land, partly buried, in an industrial area. It sits on the eastern breakwater of Leith Docks, which is like a wall built into the sea to protect the harbor.
Contents
What is a Martello Tower?
A martello tower is a small, round fort that was built a long time ago to defend coastlines. They were very strong and could protect against attacks from the sea. The Tally Toor was built in 1809.
How the Tally Toor Changed
The Tally Toor was changed in 1850. Later, during World War II, it was used as an anti-aircraft battery. This means it had guns that could shoot down enemy planes.
Protecting History
The Tally Toor is so important that it's officially known as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This special title is given by Historic Environment Scotland, which means the building is protected because of its historical importance.
Who Built It?
If you look closely at the stonework of the Tally Toor, you might see some folk symbols carved into it. These symbols suggest that the tower was built by Irish navvies. Navvies were workers who did a lot of hard physical labor, often building things like railways, canals, and defenses in the past.
Images for kids
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The Tally Toor in Leith
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The Tally Toor during breakwater construction in 1942
