Visiting Martello Tower No.24
Martello Tower No. 24 in Dymchurch High Street was one of 74 towers built along the south coast between 1805 and 1812 to resist the threatened French invasion.
Of the 74 Martello Towers built on the Kent and Sussex coast, Martello24 is considered to be the best surviving example, being closest to its original condition and it can be seen as it was when occupied by the military in 1806. It has been restored to its original design and layout with almost all of the original tower still in place.
The tower contains almost all of the features of the original design including brickwork, front and parapet doors, window openings, fireplaces, ventilation shafts, the original 24 pounder muzzle-loading cannon on the gun platform, parapet shot lockers, hauling rings, replica gunpowder barrels, and replica 'Brown Bess' muskets.
Martello Tower No. 24 in Dymchurch is open to the public every Saturday 2pm to 4pm from Easter until end of October. Children, accompanied by an adult, and
dogs on leads are always welcome.
Outside the normal opening times, bespoke visits by appointment are available for recognised groups eg History Societies, WI Schools, Scouts & Girl Guides etc, comprising of more than 10 people. Find out more
The Friends of Martello24 act as custodians of the tower on behalf of English Heritage and manage its openings to the public, both on a regular basis and bespoke visits.
Entry to the tower is free but as a Registered Charity, the Friends of Martello 24 are dependent on donations and these are always appreciated.
Martello Tower No. 24 is located in Dymchurch, just off the High Street. The Tower is open to the public by the Friends of Martello 24:
Saturdays and Bank Holidays
2 pm to 4 pm
Easter to End of October 2024
When the tower is not open, bespoke visits by appointment are available for recognised groups eg History Societies, WI Schools, Scouts & Girl Guides etc, comprising more than 10 people.
Location Map & Directions High Street, Dymchurch TN29 0NU
what3words.com/zipped.mows.bench
- Access to the tower is by an external metal staircase to the first floor, and once inside access to the roof/gun platform and to the ground floor is by very steep stairs.
See pictures below. Thus the tower is not really suitable for people with mobility problems. - There are no facilities inside the tower. There is a public toilet about 3 mins walk away, adjacent to the main central car park, and there are many places to eat and drink close by. (see romneymarshhistory.co.uk/eat)
- The tower is just off the High Street in the middle of Dymchurch village.
Postcode TN29 0NU. - There are three public car parks in Dymchurch.
- Volunteer Stewards are on duty in the tower to help with safety, security and answer any questions you may have.
Martello Tower No.24 is located in the middle of Dymchurch, just off the High Street on the A259. Postcode TN29 0NU
By Car: There are three car parks in the village. Two are off Orgarswick Avenue; Dymchurch Central (TN29 0NL) with the smaller Dymchurch Parish Council car park on the opposite side of Orgarswick Avenue. There is a third car part just as you enter Dymchurch from the south on the A259. See a map of car parks in the area
By Bus: There are regular buses, known as the Wave route, that serve the areas on the A259 coast road that runs through Dymchurch High Street from Hastings in East Sussex to Dover. Routes 100, 101 and 102 run through New Romney, Dymchurch and Hythe and then follows the A259 to Folkestone and Dover.
By Train: The coastal area of the Marsh from Hythe to Dungeness is served by the light railway Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (RH&DR), with stations at Hythe, Dymchurch, St Mary's Bay, Romney Warren, New Romney, Romney Sands and Dungeness. The tower is about 5 minutes walk from Dymchurch railway station.
For more travel information, please visit our Plan Your Visit page.
When the tower is not open, bespoke visits by appointment are available for recognised groups eg History Societies, WI Schools, Scouts & Girl Guides etc, comprising of more than 10 people. NB In certain circumstances, it may be possible to have smaller groups. Please contact Peter.
- We suggest you allow about an hour for a bespoke visit
- For Health & Safety, there is a limit of about 30 to the number of visitors in any one group. If your group is larger than about 30, then two, or more, visits will need to be arranged. They can be concurrent.
- Access to the tower is by an external metal staircase to the first floor, and once inside access to the roof/gun platform and to the ground floor is by very steep stairs.
See the pictures below. Thus the tower is not really suitable for people with mobility problems. - There are no facilities inside the tower.
- The tower is in the middle of Dymchurch village (postcode TN29 0NU) and there are many places to eat and drink close by. (see romneymarshhistory.co.uk/eat)
- There are three car parks in Dymchurch
- There is a public toilet about 3 mins walk away, adjacent to one of the car parks.
Please see above for a map and other information.
To arrange a bespoke visit for your group, please contact the Friends of Martello24 by 
email or 
01303 872828.
External Stairs to gain entrance to the tower
Stairs to the ground floor
Stairs to the roof where the cannon is located
The Tower, Beach and Sea
Dymchurch is a village and civil parish in the Folkestone and Hythe District of Kent, England. The village is located on the coast five miles (8 km) southwest of Hythe, and on the Romney Marsh. The village has a wide range of shops and caters well for the visitor, with many cafes, restaurants, pubs etc and a choice of accommodation.
Tea Rooms and Cafes
Pubs Serving Food
Restaurants
Places to Stay
Find out more on our Dymchurch Village page.
