Martello Tower A, Point Clear (EHER 2134)

Early 19th century Martello tower, which is a round building, brick built with smaller turret and chimney on top. The tower has had a variety of uses; first as a coastguard station and later as a piquet station in World War One. After the war the tower was converted for use as a restaurant, serving the seafront properties which developed around Stone Point in the late 1920s and 1930s. During World War Two the tower, and later the entire point was commandeered for military use. The tower was used as a tea room in the late 1950s and 1960s, although it was unable to match its pre-war success. For a while it was used as a bar and discotheque for the new holiday park but by the mid 1980s the tower had fallen into disuse. The tower is now used by a local museum group.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Martello tower, built 1810-12. Now in use as a cafe. <1>-<5> <7> The first (i.e. most southerly) of the east coast line of towers, built around 1810 and with a battery in front (see EHER 2135), the only one in the series. Approximately 150 ft in circumference, and around 50 to 60 ft tall. Round building, brick built with smaller turret and chimney on top. A commemorative plaque to a WWII U.S. flyer is on the road-facing wall. In people's gardens next to the sea wall and nearby the site, are the remains of a wall with a preservation order on it. (ESMR 2135) Used as a museum under lease for Second World War memorabilia. Martello Tower A The tower was the first to be built in the east coast series (and consequently identified by the letter 'A'). It was constructed in an isolated location known as Lost Marsh, on land purchased in 1808. The tower stands complete to its original height of about 10m. The tower remained in Crown hands into the early 20th century, first as a coastguard station and later as a piquet station in WWI. After the war the tower was converted for use as a restaurant, serving the seafront properties which developed around Stone Point in the late 1920s and 1930s. During WWII the tower, and later the entire point was commandeered for military use. The tower was used as a tea room in the late 1950s and 1960s, although it was unable to match its pre-war success. For a while it was used as a bar and discotheque for the new holiday park but by the mid 1980s the tower had fallen into disuse. The tower is now used by a local museum group. <8> Other refs including aerial photographs. <12> -<19> Site Assessment 1986 'The original stone and brickwork of the tower are in excellent condition but modern entrances have been forced at ground level below the original one and on the seaward side, and at 1st floor level in the south window. On top there are World War additions. Inside it has been adapted as a café…'. <6> Recently used as a restaurant, now with café addition to right of door, but still basically intact. <7> In 1992 it was in fair condition although the outside toilet was in bad repair. The other Martello tower in the area was demolished in 1963. <9> <10> records that a minefield was laid at the entrance to the River Colne with mines controlled from the Point Clear Martello Tower. <10><11> October 2009: Visited in October 2009, the Martello tower was, during World War Two, used as a lookout position for the minefield which lay out in the river. It was known as HMS Helder and probably acted in the same way as the Minefield Control Tower (EHER 10004) which overlooked the River Crouch with mines individually connected to a triggering panel in the tower. On top of the tower is the brick and concrete control room with viewing aperture, loopholes and trap door (now sealed) to a rooftop lookout/defence enclosure. Seven photos of site. <19> Aerial photographs <20> <21> Additional references <22> <23> <24>