Martello Tower F, Marine Parade (EHER 5)

This Martello Tower was built between 1808-1812 to protect England from a naval attack by Napoleon, from vari-coloured brick, made at Grays, Essex. It is the only surviving tower in Essex to be set within a dry, brick lined moat and it stands at a height of around 10m from the base of the moat. It has a cam- or pear-shaped footprint. It was never garrisoned but the tower has hosted various uses since it was first built. It became a coastguard lookout station in 1888. It was returned to military use during World War I when it became a piquet house for G Company of the 8th battalion of the Essex Regiment. It was also the headquarters for the Seaplane station on West Beach. The local authority turned it into a museum in 1931 though this was short lived. It was again returned to military use during World War II and was used by the Royal Navy Auxiliary Service until 1991. In use as a restaurant in 2007. Scheduled.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Martello tower (Marine Parade), surrounded by a deep ditch <1> <2> Martello Tower 'F' built 1810-12, has for many years been used as a Coastguard Lookout. <15> <16> Rof has been used as a lookout for many years. 'Shortly before World War II the interior was set up as a museum'. Now leased to the Ministry of Defence and used by Royal Naval Auxiliary Service'. A report of 1823 said that the deep ditch was planted with wheat-'now' it houses a model village and children's zoo <3> <5> There is large counterscarp bank, the inner face of which is brick-revetted. 'The tower retains its bridge and is in good condition. It was locked up at the time of visit but is said to be let to the coastguards' <4> '...having a brick-lined moat. It originally had a glacis (a bank sloping down from the parapet of a covered way or ditch to allow for a clear field of fire from the ramparts above), and an outer battery now lost by erosion by the sea. It dates from 1808-12 and cost 5000. The vari-coloured brick came from Grays. There are stone dressings, to 4 windows and a door at half height, and a stone parapet. <6> This Martello tower is set within a dry moat. The tower stands complete to its original height of about 10m. The upper portion of the tower (approximately one third) protrudes above the lip of the brick built retaining wall of the moat, which encircles the base at a distance of some 10m and was intended to provide further protection from both cannon fire and ground assault. This tower was originally covered by a layer of coarse stucco. The first floor entrance, to the north west, is still approached by the original cast iron footbridge which spans the ditch on three pairs of stilt like legs. The section nearest the tower is designed as a drawbridge, capable of being raised to seal the entrance. One of the raising chains is still in place. <7> The battery associated with the tower was built at the same time and included a V-shaped brick wall pointing towards the sea. This structure is said to have largely disappeared over the cliffs in 1883, and all further traces have since been lost to coastal erosion and the development of the promenade. <7> In the mid 19th century the tower was occupied by Mr T. W. Hook, and in 1888 the roof came into use as a coastguard lookout. In WWI the tower was commandeered as a piiquet station for G company of the *th Battalion Essex Regiment. In the inter war years it came into the hands of the local authority and in 1931 the interior was opened as a museum. In WWII it returned to military control and thereafter leased to the MOD. Until 1990 the interior was used by the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNAS).<7> Site Assessment = 'A well-known landmark', roof has been used as lookout by coastguards. Interior was set up as a museum just before World War II, 'now' leased to Royal Naval Auxiliary Service'. Today houses model village and children's zoo <3> In good condition, said to be let to coastguards <4> July 1986. Grade II listed. This Martello Tower and brick lined moat was built between circa 1808-1812 from vari-coloured brick, made at Grays, Essex. It has a stone parapet, rusticated stone dressings to four windows and a door at half height. Unlike the other Clacton Defence Towers this one had a moat, glacis and outer battery. The brick lined moat still survives, the wall being approximately 7m tall and the moat base 8m wide. Taking four years to build, at a cost of approximately £5000, the situation was considered too unhealthy and the garrison was stationed at Weeley. The building is now used as a Coast Guard station, and erosion by sea has claimed the battery. <12> <17> March 2021. Heritage assessment. The Martello Towers are a series of small artillery coastal forts built along the South and East coasts of England during the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815), with overlapping fields of fire, to protect England from naval attack by Napoleon. They were funded by a large increase in military spending, paid for, for first time, by direct taxation. In total, 29 Martello Towers were built along the East coast between 1808 and 1812, 11 of which were in Essex. Of these, only 18 now survive and of the 11 Essex towers, five have been demolished, three are derelict, and Tower F is one of three in good condition, although its setting has been much compromised by the growth of Clacton and modern development. <13> Tower F. Martello Tower F was never garrisoned but the tower has hosted various uses since it was first built. In the late 19th century, it became a coastguard lookout. During World War I it was occupied by a small group of soldiers. It was briefly used as a museum in the interwar years before returning to military service in World War II. It was again returned to military use during World War II and was used by the Royal Navy Auxiliary Service until 1991. In use as a restaurant in 2007. In the 1970s the moat was used as a petting zoo. It has also been used as the Headquarters for the nearby West Beach Seaplane Station <17> <18>. This use ceased in the 1980s but was revived around 2010. In the intervening years, the tower was used as a scout centre, a model village and a restaurant. The tower is now largely vacant except for occasional use by the current owner as an office space for himself and community activities. Martello Tower F is set within a dry moat and stands at a height of around 10m from the base of the moat. It has a cam- or pear-shaped footprint. The tower walls taper upwards and for defensive purposes, are thicker on the seaward side. The walls are also slightly thicker where staircases rise from Level 2 to Level 3. Martello Tower F is a typical example of the East coast tower typology, with the towers built in three levels. The lowest level, herein Level 1, was used for storage of provisions and munitions and the middle level, Level 2, served as living quarters for the officers and garrison. The top level or the gun platform, Level 3, carried a number of cannons with which the tower could be defended. Martello Tower F is the only one of the remaining towers on the Essex coast to have a moat. The moat wall is lined with red bricks and is approximately 5m tall and 10m away from the base of the Tower. The surface of the moat is predominantly covered with grass, a 19th and 20th century alteration. A curved paved pathway cuts through the grass and wraps around the entire moat. This pathway was probably installed when the moat was used as a petting zoo. Larger paved areas indicate where animals were previously kept and exhibited. Many of the loose items and smaller structures within the moat such as a blue and white painted shed, a pond with surrounding rockery, a timber ramp and low level timber fences also relate to the former petting zoo use. The tower originally had a glacis and outer battery. No physical evidence of the battery or glacis can be seen. It is said that these were lost to coastal erosion and the development of the promenade. <14> Additional references from the NRHE <18> <19> <20> <21>