Martello Tower

The largest and most northerly of a chain of towers in England, built to keep Napoleon out, this quatrefoil shaped building stands at the foot of the Orford Ness peninsula, between the River Alde and the sea.

Keeping out Napoleon
This is the largest and most northerly of the chain of towers put up by the Board of Ordnance to keep out Napoleon. Built in the shape of a quatrefoil for four heavy guns, nearly a million bricks were used in its construction.

It stands at the root of the Orford Ness peninsula, between the River Alde and the sea, a few hundred yards from Aldeburgh. Here you may live with the sea, the wind and rain sometimes, and Aldeburgh at just the right distance.

A large, lofty space
The vaulted interior has a floor of teak and an intriguing echo, the canopy over the main living space giving it an agreeable nautical resonance of sails. The bedrooms are screened from the central living area but not fully divided, so that, lying in bed, you can still have a sense of being in a larger loftier space – and you can enjoy some conversation with your fellow guests.

A roof-top view
The stone-flagged battery on the roof, with the mountings of guns and a high, thick parapet for shelter, is a very pleasant place to be. There is no better place to eat your fish and chips (from Aldeburgh’s renowned purveyor) than on the roof, with the sound of the sea and a glass of the local brew in your hand. Many visitors bring sailing dinghies or just enjoy watching the boats race from the nearby club.