Kempt Tower
Kempt Tower, in La Grande Cueillette, Saint Ouen, Jersey, is also known as Saint Ouen No. 2 and La Grôsse Tou[1] in Jèrriais, and is a Martello tower that the British completed in 1834. It is named for Sir James Kempt, the Master-General of the Ordnance from 1830 to 1834. While governor of Canada, Kempt was involved in the planning for the use of Martello towers to protect the colony.[2] Currently, Kempt Tower serves as the interpretation centre for Les Mielles conservation area.
Design
[edit]Kempt Tower has a cam-shaped base, and has a trefoil gun platform. It too has a thicker-walled side facing the sea.[3] It is shorter and wider than its near neighbour, Lewis Tower. The interior of the tower is a doughnut-shaped space around a brick column, and has a curved ceiling. The tower measures 35 ft (11 m) in height and 27 ft (8.2 m) in diameter.[4] The door at ground level represents a modification by the German occupation of the Channel Islands.
The tower itself was armed with a 24-pounder gun and two 24-pounder short guns.[5] In front of the tower there was a paved redoubt that was armed with three 24-pounder guns.
Citations and references
[edit]Citations
References
- Clements, William H. (1998) Towers of Strength: Story of Martello Towers. (London: Pen & Sword). ISBN 978-0-85052-679-0.
- Grimsley, E.J. (1988) The Historical Development of the Martello Tower in the Channel Islands. (Sarnian Publications). ISBN 978-0-9513868-0-4
- Sutcliffe, Sheila (1973) Martello Towers. (Cranbury, NJ: Associated Universities Press).