Martello Towers
A string of towers (of which ten survive) built 1808-12 from Aldeburgh southward to Shotley to defend the coast against Napoleon. Held to be named after a prototype at Mortella Point in Corsica, however Italian coastal watch towers were also known as ‘Torre di Martello’ or ‘Hammer Towers’ in which a hammer was used to strike a bell to warn of the approach of pirates. The most northerly of Suffolk’s Martello Towers is at Slaughden, at the south end of Aldeburgh. This was built 1810-12 and has a unique quatrefoil plan.
The Tower at Slaughden