Tower 14 in 1998

Tower 14 in 1998

Tower 14 stands within the danger area of the Hythe Ranges and at one time, had an 'A' painted on it to denote the range it stood on.1 It was used to fly a red danger flag whenever the ranges were in use, although a small guardhouse nearby performs this function today. The tower stands near some butts in the form of a raised bank with numbers along the top.

Instead of a stucco covering, the tower has an outer layer of yellow brickwork, although this is probably not original. The upper brickwork is exposed, and some of the stone parapet coping has been lost. The windows have been bricked up, but in a way that allows ventilation.

Towers 15 and 14 in 1998

Towers 15 and 14 in 1998

The tower seems to otherwise be in reasonable condition and is currently empty and unused.

The land Towers 14 and 15 stand on is unlikely to be given up for public use, although it can be said that the military use of the area has prevented housing development, and this area is the only stretch of the Martello line where more than one tower can still be seen on an open beach, much as it must have looked like when they were first built.


References

  1. Mead, Commander Hilary, R.N. The Martello Towers of England (part 2) The Mariner's Mirror Vol.34 No.4 October 1948