Being a low-level tower with its immediate neighbours, Tower 52's position was described in the 1873 report on coastal defences as 'precarious', and the sea probably claimed the tower not long after the turn of the century. Interestingly, the two semi-circular slabs that formed the cap to the central column still exist, and are the centrepiece of an ornimental pond in the garden of a house in Norman's Bay very close to the site of Tower 54!
The beach around Tower 52 was the scene of an incident involving a French boat trying to land spirits on December 27, 1819. Seaman Dennis Brennan of the Coast Blockade tried to seize the contraband, but was violently assaulted in the attempt. £50 was seemingly not large enough a reward for information.
Another incident occurred at 3 a.m. on February 23, 1822, when a large gang of smugglers marched down to Tower 52 and tried to seize the Blockade man stationed there as a boat approached. After several blows from thebats that the smugglers were armed with, the Blockade man drew his pistol and shot one of the smugglers dead. The boat promptly left and blockade reinforcements managed to capture one of the smugglers.
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| Tower 51 | Tower 53 |