Eastbourne Redoubt and Martello tower Photo: Eastbourne Redoubt and Martello tower

The Eastbourne is situated on the South coast of Britain and is known as a seaside resort since ancient times. But there was a time when the city had to participate in the defense of the country.

During the wars with Napoleon (1804-1812.g.) along the southern and Eastern coasts of great Britain was built a chain of fortifications, designed to provide protection from an anticipated attack by the French. It was built 103 so-called Martello towers, 74 on the coast of England, the rest in Ireland and the Islands. The name they got the name of this consolidation on the island of Corsica. It is a small round tower, with a height of 12 meters with strong stone walls. Upstairs there was a turning platform which set up artillery guns. The garrison usually consisted of one officer and 15-25 soldiers. A chain of such towers in the UK is a unique phenomenon in the history of fortification, nowhere else in the world Martello tower was built on the sight distance from each other; typically, this freestanding single-building.

In terms of the construction of coastal fortifications provision was made for the erection of three of the larger FORTS, or redoubts in Eastbourne, Harwich and Dimchurch. Barracks, arsenals and warehouses. Eastbourne Redoubt was built in 1804-1810 gg

Since Napoleon, suffered a crushing defeat in Russia, and not attacked the UK, these fortresses and fortifications were never used for its intended purpose, but Eastbourne Redoubt served as a headquarters of the military police during the First world war and the warehouse during the Second world war. Also there were canadian troops are stationed, waiting for the landing on the Normandy coast in 1944.

In 1977, the fortress was opened military Museum is the largest military Museum in the South-East coast of great Britain. The Museum is open to the public from April to November. Also the territory of the fortress serves as the perfect stage for historical reconstructions.

I can add description


Eastbourne Redoubt and Martello tower
Beachy Head