Martello Tower at Tm 358 410 is a Grade II listed building in the East Suffolk local planning authority area, England. First listed on 31 August 1988. Defensive tower. 1 related planning application.

Martello Tower at Tm 358 410

WRENN ID
standing-copper-blackthorn
Grade
II
Local Planning Authority
East Suffolk
Constituency
Suffolk Coastal MP: Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Lab)
Country
England
Date first listed
31 August 1988
Type
Defensive tower
Address
Martello Tower at Tm 358 410, Bawdsey, IP12 3FB
OS grid reference
TM 358 410
Coordinates
52.01783, 1.43601
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: sale history · EPC · related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

This is a defensive Martello Tower, constructed circa 1810-1812 as part of a coastal defence system. It was designed by Colonel Twiss and Captain Ford. The tower is built of yellow brick with ashlar dressings. It is three stories high and has a distinctive tear-drop shape, with the narrower end facing east towards the sea. The walls are battered, meaning they slope inwards towards the top. At first-floor level, there are four window openings with cambered heads, each framed by slightly projecting ashlar surrounds featuring lugs at the top and bottom of each side. On the west side, at the same level, is a doorway with an ashlar surround and an inset ashlar ladder-slope positioned beneath the sill.

Local climate

Martello Tower at Tm 358 410 sits in one of the driest parts of the UK, with an average of 690 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 96% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 50% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 14 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 87% of listed buildings. Of these, 8 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.

More on this building

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  • Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
  • Sale history — 1 transaction since 2020
  • Related listed building consents — 1 application
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
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Nearby listed buildings

  1. Martello Tower at Tm 361 419 Grade II 925 m
  2. Battery Observation Post Grade II 1.0 km
  3. Tower House Grade II 1.3 km
  4. Stangrove Hall Grade II 1.4 km
  5. Bawdsey War Memorial Grade II 1.5 km
  6. Church of St Mary Grade II* 1.5 km
  7. Manor Cottage Grade II 1.5 km
  8. Quilter Monument in Churchyard of St Mary Grade II 1.6 km
  9. The Swan Inn Grade II 1.6 km
  10. Martello Tower Grade II 1.7 km