Martello Tower at Fort Frederick Kingston Ontario Canada
Martello towers were inspired by a round fortress at Mortella Point in Corsica in the 15 century. They protected the local village from North African Pirates. They stood one or two stories tall and measured 36-45' in diameter with a single door 15' off the ground. The interior of a Martello tower was divided into three stories. The ground floor served as the magazine and storerooms, where ammunition, stores, and provisions were kept. The garrison of 24 men and 1 officer lived in a casement on the first floor, which was divided into several rooms and had fireplaces built into the walls for cooking and heat. The roof or terreplein was surmounted with two cannons on a central pivot which enabled them to be turned though 360 degrees. A well cistern was provided within the fort to supply the garrison with fresh water. An internal drainage system linked to the roof enabled the cistern to be filled with rainwater. Men could live within for up to a couple of months if necessary. On being attacked the top could be removed quickly by cutting some ropes on the inside that were holding the top sections together. The section would slide down to the moat below exposing the cannons for war.
Size: 6639px × 4175px
Location: Fort Frederick Kingston Ontario Canada
Photo credit: © Paul Cannon / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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