Duke of York Martello Tower
Duke of York Martello Tower (1796-1890s) - A British colonial Martello tower established in 1798 by Prince Edward, fourth son of King George III, at the York Redoubt, in present day Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada. Named for Prince Edward's brother the Duke of York. Designed by Captain James Stratton, Commanding Royal Engineer. Abandoned in 1890s after a fire caused the removal of the upper floor.
Duke of York Martello Tower History
Part of the Harbor Defense of Halifax.
One of five Martello Towers built for the defense of Halifax Harbor. The towers were mainly designed to provide land side protection for water facing batteries. The five Halifax Harbor Martello Towers were:
| Tower | Built | Designed by | Fort | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Wales Martello Tower | 1796 | Capt. James Straton | Point Pleasant | ||
| Duke of Clarence Martello Tower | 1798 | Capt. James Straton | Fort Clarence | Dartmouth | |
| Duke of York Martello Tower | 1798 | Capt. James Straton | York Redoubt | ||
| Fort Charlotte Martello Tower | 1812 | Capt. Gustavus Nicolls | Fort Charlotte (2) | George's Island | |
| Sherbrooke Martello Tower | 1814 | Col. Gustavus Nicolls | Magruder's Beach on McNab's Island |
The Prince of Wales Tower was built of ironstone as a circular tower 30' high, with a diameter at the base of 40 to 50'. The tower was originally two stories high.
Although rendered obsolete as a defensive fortification by the 1860s the tower remained intact and in use as a signal station until a fire destroyed the upper floor in the 1890s. In 1877, prior to the fire the tower was made a part of the new enclosing wall of the redoubt and two camponiers were built into the wall alongside two sides of the tower. The upper floor was removed after the fire and the tower was reduced to the present single story.
Current Status
Part of the York Redoubt National Historic Site, Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada. The interior of the tower is not open to the public. The exterior of the tower can be viewed from the grounds of the redoubt. No period guns or mounts visible.
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Location: York Redoubt National Historic Site, Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia, Canada Maps & Images Lat: 44.597347 Long: -63.553411 |
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Sources:
- Piers, Harry, The Evolution of the Halifax Fortress 1749-1928, The Public Archives of Nova Scotia, 1947, 155 pages, page 105
Links:
Visited: 23 Jun 2013
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