Martello Tower

PEVENSEY LEYLAND ROAD TQ 60 SE (west side), Pevensey Bay 26/260 Martello Tower

II

Martello tower, now house. 1806, converted c.1985. Yellowish brick, with C20 concrete render scored as ashlar; roof not visible. 3 storeys; circular on plan, tapering. Brick plinth. 2 inserted C20 windows at front (to ground and 1st floors); on right, C20 brick and stone steps up to 1st-floor door. Stone coping. Recessed circular C20 2nd floor, having continuous window and flat roof. Interior: ground floor, formerly the magazine, has central brick pier, encased and large stone corbels which supported the original 1st floor; within the wall thickness a barrel-vaulted powder room, with segmental-arched recess. 1st floor: originally partitioned into 2 rooms (for officers and men) each with fireplace; central brick pier supports domed vault; ring in vault above former trap-door through which supplies could be hoisted up from the magazine. Stone stair within wall thickness up to 2nd floor, which was formerly unroofed and has blocked gun posts and iron rings set in stone blocks (to which guns were tied). This tower was part of the Napoleonic south coast defence system. The walls are extremely thick, being of solid brick approximately 5 metres thick on the sea- ward side and half that thickness on the landward side.

Listing NGR: TQ6555603862