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Martello Towers

Seoirse

Well-Known Member
Shortly after 1801, the threat of Napoleonic invasion inspired Britain to devise an early warning defense mechanism which they hoped would avert the threat posed by the wily French General. So, they began to construct Martello Towers along the most vulnerable coasts both at home and in countries which they had colonised such as Ireland.

Based on a Genovese Fortress at Mortella Point in Corsica - the British mis-pronounced the name from Mortella to Martello and set about constructing almost 200 in various parts of the empire. More than 50 were constructed to defend the east and south coasts of Ireland.

They stand up to 40 feet (12m) high (with two floors) and typically had a garrison of one officer and 15-25 men. Their round structure and thick walls of solid masonry made them resistant to cannon fire, while their height made them an ideal platform for a single heavy artillery piece, mounted on the flat roof and able to traverse a 360° arc. A few towers had moats for extra defence.

Of course as we know now...Napoleon never invaded Ireland and the Martello Towers became obsolete anyway due to introduction of powerful rifled artillery.

Nonetheless they are handsome structures and some have been lovingly restored while others have been allowed to fall into disrepair.

The first one here is situated on a headland called Red Island at Skerries, Co Dublin and functions occasionally as an art gallery...

75mm Zone Plate on a Hasselblad 503CW loaded with Fuji 400
Processed in Rodinal 1:50 for 14 mins

Picture 1
 

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The design was not rigidly uniform but varies from tower to tower.

This one is on a lonely but beautiful headland called Dromanagh which overlooks Loughshinny Harbour.

Picture 2
 

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There isn't an awful lot left on this one which is located at Balbriggan but the corbel details are nice...

Picture 3
 

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either there is something terribly wrong with your camera/processing/scanner or you are trying to achieve some kind of pictorial effect... care to explain?
 
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