South Martello Tower Approximately 200 Metres East of Bristol Hill on the Site of Former Hms Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment is a Grade II listed building in the Babergh local planning authority area, England. First listed on 23 February 1989. Military structure.

South Martello Tower Approximately 200 Metres East of Bristol Hill on the Site of Former Hms Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment

WRENN ID
slow-quartz-briar
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
Babergh
Constituency
South Suffolk MP: James Cartlidge (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
23 February 1989
Type
Military structure
OS grid reference
TM 248 336
Coordinates
51.95593, 1.27072
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The South Martello Tower, built around 1808 to 1812, is located approximately 200 meters east of Bristol Hill on the site of the former HMS Ganges, a Royal Naval Training Establishment. This Martello Tower is constructed of roughcast brick and features stone rusticated dressings with keystones above four doorways. The windows have been blocked, and the tower is topped with stone coping.

The large circular structure supports a tall metal tower with a pointed leaded roof, a 20th-century brick lookout room, and a mast with two yards. Inside, the ground floor is brick vaulted, with arches springing from a central brick column. This tower is part of the larger, elliptical East Coast type and was built as part of the defensive system for the East and South Coasts during the Napoleonic War.

Local climate

South Martello Tower Approximately 200 Metres East of Bristol Hill on the Site of Former Hms Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment sits in a drier-than-average part of the UK, with an average of 730 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 79% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 70% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 11 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 89% of listed buildings. Of these, 6 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Gates, Gatepiers, Railings and Lamp Standards, The 'Main Gate', at Hms Ganges Grade II 208 m
  2. Ceremonial Mast of the Former Hms Ganges, Royal Naval Training Establishment Grade II 224 m
  3. Swimming pool at former HMS Ganges Grade II 401 m
  4. Nether Hall Grade II 1.1 km
  5. Over Hall Grade II 1.2 km
  6. Harwich Train Ferry Berth Grade II 1.3 km
  7. Premises of Orwell and Harwich Navigation Company Grade II 1.4 km
  8. 10 and 11, Eastgate Street Grade II 1.4 km
  9. 21, King's Head Street Grade II 1.4 km
  10. 21a, King's Head Street Grade II 1.4 km