Tower 19 once had an 'N' painted on it, denoting the range it was situated on.1 Unfortunately, it can no longer really be classed as standing, as its highest point is roughly 15 feet above the ground.
Fort Moncrief, a six-gun battery, was situated forward of and between Towers 18 and 19, but by 1873 had been encroached upon by the sea. Although its barrack buildings were intact, the parapet had been ruined.
At the same time, Tower 19 was predicted to have a "long existence" because it was protected from encroachment of the sea due to the ruins of the fort's parapet on the beach. 2
The tower was described by Commander Mead in 1948 as being on a slight rise in the beach, many of its neighbours having been washed away by this time.3
The tide eventually claimed Tower 19 in about 1975,4 and the majority of the masonry now lies in large masses on the beach in front of the base which still stands.
It appears that some deliberate dismantling has taken place, possibly following intial collapse, as the brickwork is far too neatly cut off around the top of standing walls. These wonderful photographs (courtesy Steve Popple) show the ruins of the tower.
The loss of Tower 19 is a warning as to what will happen to others that are near the water's edge, such as Tower 64, if action is not taken.
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| Tower 18 | Tower 20 |