Dymchurch Martello Tower
Restored Napoleonic-era Martello tower No. 24 on the Kent coast, free to enter on weekend afternoons in season and run by volunteers.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Between 1793 and 1815 Britain feared invasion by Napoleon's army. Between 1805 and 1808 the government built 74 small artillery forts, called Martello towers, along the south-east coast. Dymchurch Martello Tower was built to defend the beach with a powerful gun and to protect one of the main sluices controlling water levels on Romney Marsh.
Today it is one of only 26 surviving towers and the only one presented to look as it did originally. The first floor shows the garrison accommodation, and below it is a storeroom for food, coal, water and ammunition. A 24-pounder gun stands on the roof.
The tower is owned by English Heritage. It is opened to the public by the Friends of Martello24, a volunteer-run charity founded in 2017, which acts as custodian and has restored the tower to the layout of 1806.
Highlights
- Tower restored to its original military layout
- 24-pounder muzzle-loading cannon on the gun platform
- Replica gunpowder barrels and Brown Bess muskets
- Only surviving tower presented as originally built
Permanent exhibition
- Martello Tower No. 24 restored – The tower is furnished as it was when occupied by soldiers in 1806, with garrison quarters, storeroom and a 24-pounder gun on the roof.
- Founded
- 1805
- Operated by
- English Heritage (opened by the Friends of Martello24)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free; the volunteer charity welcomes donations.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The tower is reached by an external metal staircase to the first floor, and the stairs to the roof and ground floor are very steep, so it is not suitable for people with mobility problems. Only assistance dogs are allowed. There are no facilities inside; public toilets are at the nearby Central Car Park.
Kids & families
Children are welcome when accompanied by an adult.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Dymchurch station (Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway) · 5-min walk
The tower is about a five-minute walk from Dymchurch station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
No parking at the tower. The public pay and display Central Car Park is a two-minute walk away.
The tower stands on the High Street in Dymchurch.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
No facilities at the tower. Shops and places to eat are in the village.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Volunteer stewards are on duty for safety and questions. Bespoke visits by appointment outside normal opening times are offered to recognised groups of more than 10 people, such as history societies, schools and youth groups; they last about an hour and are limited to about 30 people. Smoking, vaping, barbecues and naked flames are not allowed. |
