Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1806 to 1806. Martello Tower No. 25 is one of a pair with no. 24 (TR 12 NW 4) guarding the main Marshland Sluice at the west end of Dymchurch village. They are the last surviving pair of towers in this formation. No. 25 has been restored on the outside only with the building of a new roof.

Monument Types

• MARTELLO TOWER (Post Medieval to Modern - 1806 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 100 290 DYMCHURCH DYMCHURCH ROAD
A259, (East side)
437/4/53
Martello Tower, No.25
23.05.85 II
Martello Tower. 1806. Brick, covered in plain render. Circular, slightly tapering tower about 30 feet high. Walls said to be 51/2-6 feet thick. Renewed shallow domed roof surrounded by projecting cement-rendered coping. 2 small C20 casements, one to north and one to south, with cills about 12 feet up. 2 small ventilation grilles towards base. Vertical door with proud architrave and segmental head, with cill about 10 feet up, on west side. T-shaped recess below cill with surround continued from door architrave. Plaque over doorway. No external steps at time of re-survey. C20 door to ground floor. Interior gutted. One of a series of towers built in 1806 as gunposts against a possible Napoleonic invasion. Stands immediately behind sea wall. See High Street (east side) Martello Tower No.24 and Hythe Road (east side) Martello Tower No.23.
Listing NGR: TR1051029990

Description from record TR 12 NW 3 :
[TR 10012903] Martello Tower (No. 25) (NR) (1)

Tower in poor condition. Used as a refreshment kiosk during the summer. (2)

Martello Tower No. 25 is one of a pair with no. 24 (TR 12 NW 4) guarding the main Marshland Sluice at the west end of Dymchurch village. They are the last surviving pair of towers in this formation. No. 25 has been restored on the outside only with the building of a new roof. Scheduled. (3,4)

TR 10052905. Martello Tower No. 25 guards the Marshland Sluice. (5)

The late Ministry of Public Buildings and Works spent several years making it watertight. At the south end of the sea wall at Dymchurch No. 25 is one of two Martello Towers. These were built in 1806 as part of a whole series of gun-posts against a possible Napoleonic invasion. (6)

TR 100290. Dymchurch Dymchurch Road (A259) (east side) Martello Tower No. 25. 4/53 Grade II. Martello Tower. 1806. Brick, covered in palin render. Circular, slightly tapering tower about 30ft high. Walls said to be 5.5-6ft thick. Shallow domed roof surrounded by projecting cement-rendered coping. 2 small horned recessed glazing bar sashes, one to north and one to south, with cills about 12 feet up. 2 small ventilation grilles towards base. Vertical door with proud architrave and segmental head, with cill about 10 feet up, on west side. T-shaped recess below cill with surround continued from door on west side. T-shaped recess below cill with surround continued from door architrave. Plaque over doorway. No external steps at time of re-survey. Interior: not inspected, but said to contain central brick pillar with vaulted arches, magazine on ground floor and 2 rooms as quarters for garrison on first floor. One of a series built in 1806 as gunposts agains a possible Napoleonic invasion. Stands immediately behind sea wall. Scheduled Ancient Monument. See also high street (east side) Martello Tower No. 24 and Hythe road (east side) Martello Tower No.23. (7)

Martello 25. The external condition is fairly poor. The interior has been completely gutted and used for a variety of purposes. Tower used as a look-out tower in last war and heavy steel girders inserted to carry necessary structure. Two windows have been inserted at first floor level. (8)

Descheduled 27.1.98 (9-10)

Historic England archive material (11)

<1> OS 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48369.

<2> F1 ASP 22-MAR-1963 (OS Card Reference). SKE42236.

<3> Martello Towers 1972 91 (S Sutcliffe) (OS Card Reference). SKE46561.

<4> DOE (IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 112 (OS Card Reference). SKE40688.

<5> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 37 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43684.

<5> Bennett, D., 1977, A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945, Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 37 (D Bennett) (Monograph). SKE7811.

<6> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 263 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37858.

<7> DOE (HHR) Dist of Shepway Kent 23 April 1985 25 (OS Card Reference). SKE40347.

<8> DOE (IAM) Record form 3 11 86 (OS Card Reference). SKE40745.

<9> 1963, Field report for Martello Tower No.25 TR 12 NW 3 - March, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5319.

<10> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Pers Comm EH to KCC 27.1.98 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<11> Historic England, Archive material associated with Dymchurch Martello Towers (Archive). SKE54503.

Sources and further reading